Real deny Ronaldo transfer despite interest of player

Real Madrid director Jorge Valdano on Friday formally denied they were negotiating the transfer of Inter Milan's Brazilian star Ronaldo despite the player's wish to leave the Italian side.

Spanish radio had reported that the World Cup winner was on his way to European champions Real after Valdano had called an emergency press conference for Friday evening.

Valdano however dismissed the speculation although he admitted that he had meet with the player's agent in the afternoon.

"It's not our policy to deny rumours but before creating false expectations I want to totally clarify the situation - at present neither Inter Milan wants to sell nor do Real want to buy Ronaldo," stressed Valdano.

The Argentine said that he had met Ronaldo's agent in the afternoon and the latter had made the player's desire to leave the Italian club known.

"I then contacted Inter in line with our non-aggression pact. We clarified the situation - until such a time as Inter indicate their intention to part with the player under no circumstances will Real negotiate with Ronaldo.
"If this was the case we would study the possibility of recruiting him but Ronaldo is not a strategic recruitment event if he is an ace and aces interest us."

Spanish radio had reported that negotiations were "almost concluded" and all that remained was for 25-year-old Ronaldo to make public his desire to leave Italy for Spain for the deal to be sealed.

Inter Milan and Real have a "non-aggression pact" which stipulates that neither club can recruit players under contract with the other unless the player makes known his wish to leave the club.

Real Madrid have not recruited any player inter season.
With Ronaldo, Real president Florentino Perez could have been in line to claim his third European footballer of the year title in three years, after Portugal's Luis Figo and French star Zinedine Zidane.

Ronaldo's two goals in the World Cup final a month ago secured his country a fifth World Cup and he finished tournament top scorer with eight goals making him favourite for the European title.