Calderon still chasing Ronaldo

7:14pm Sunday 20th July 2008

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon is adamant Cristiano Ronaldo remains his club's number one transfer target despite Manchester United's insistence that the Portugal star will not be sold.

Sir Alex Ferguson met Ronaldo for clear-the-air talks on Monday and claimed on Friday that there was no chance he would be quitting United for Spain.

However, Calderon believes Ferguson's optimism is little more than a ruse to get more money out of the Primera Liga giants who are reportedly willing to pay no more than 85million euros.

"This type (of transfer) is hard," he told Spanish media, when asked about Ferguson's comments. "But we're going to go for it all the same.

"I suppose it's all about a manner of theirs to let us know clearly that they're not going to lower the price in any way and that if we want him we have to pay a lot more money."

Madrid chiefs are said to be convinced the winger - who is currently recovering from ankle surgery - will join them before the beginning of the season.

When asked about Ronaldo by the Madrid players on their first day of pre-season training, Calderon reportedly reassured them with the words "Don't worry, we have it all sorted."

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