Real have wasted little time in making their interest known in a player coach Bernd Schuster would love to have at the Bernabeu and both Schuster and club president Ramon Calderon have expressed their admiration for the Portugal winger, which has only served to increase Ferguson's annoyance.

"They think they can ride roughshod over everyone but they won't do it with us," declared the Scot. "Real Madrid have no moral issues at all."

He added: "In terms of great clubs, Barcelona have far better morality than Real Madrid will ever have.

"Do you not think we have had many expressions of interest about our players from big clubs in Europe?

"Real Madrid are not the only club interested in Ronaldo. But the others are not saying so. They don't get into this nonsense.

"The simple fact is Cristiano has another four years left on his contract."