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Red Devils hit back at new star exit claims
Manchester United, 12:34, December 18, 2008 ,
Manchester United say fresh claims from Real Madrid that they have agreed a transfer for Cristiano Ronaldo next summer are 'tiresome'.
United officials have spoken out while in Japan for the Club World Cup tournament after Real Madrid director Pedro Trapote suggested a transfer to take Ronaldo to the Bernabeu is already agreed but clauses in the arrangement prevent the news being made official at the moment.
Madrid failed in a summer-long pursuit of the European Footballer of the Year, but Trapote insists the Portuguese star will be on his way to the Spanish giants at the end of this current season.
He told Spanish daily El Mundo: "If you are asking me what we are going to do now then I would tell you that we have already signed the best player for the summer," Trapote is reported to have said.
"The best of the best. It is Cristiano, there is no other.
"It is best to not say anything because there are some clauses that prevent us from announcing it now.
"For us it would be a good time, but we should not do that. But it is not bad, eh?"
United are said to be furious at Trapote's suggestions and the official line coming from the Red Devils' camp is the constant speculation involving Real Madrid and Ronaldo is now 'tiresome'.