'Honoured' Madrid ready for Ronaldo

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon today said it is an honour that Cristiano Ronaldo wants to play for the club amid growing confidence in Spain that he will be lured away from Manchester United.

The Portuguese winger has openly admitted his ambition to move to the nine-time European champions providing they meet United's asking price. As a result, Madrid sources are increasingly bullish that a world record transfer deal - in excess of £50million - can be concluded before the end of the transfer window.

Reacting to the 23-year-old's comments which were made to a Brazilian website yesterday, Calderon said: "It's an honour that Ronaldo wants to play for us."

The gathering momentum behind his possible move has sparked fresh round of concern at Old Trafford over their star player's future.

Defender Rio Ferdinand has urged the club to pull out all the stops to keep their Champions League-winning squad intact, saying: "This team can get better but we need it to stay together.

"We have worked hard to get to the position we are in and want to build on the success we have had. That means keeping all the players at the club."

But Ronaldo may have other ideas. He said: "I would like to play for Real Madrid but only if it is true they are ready to pay what Manchester United ask of them."

There will be further worries in Manchester over reports today that he has turned down possible peace talks with Sir Alex Ferguson at Portugal's Euro 2008 training base in Switzerland.

Ronaldo has reportedly told friends that he doesn't want to meet with the United manager, who had been considering flying out.

The winger is said to be miffed by comments made by the Scot last weekend that the Glazers would rather see him sit in the stands than sell him to Madrid.