Real Madrid happy to wait and see how "hot potato" saga of Ronaldo plays out at United

Real Madrid is happy to wait and see how things play out between Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United, according to Madrid president Ramon Calderon.

Spanish media reported Thursday that Ronaldo was vacationing with his girlfriend in Sardinia before returning to Old Trafford to set the record straight with United manager Alex Ferguson over his desire to join the Spanish champion.

Calderon said Madrid is happy to be "passive spectators'' in the offseason transfer saga that has turned into a "hot potato'' at United.

"His declarations have provoked a lot of expectation. ... If the player continues to insist that he wants to come and if United will consider letting him go, then we'll ask,'' Calderon said. "If the price is right and everyone's happy, then it won't turn sour.''

United has been angered by Madrid's attempts to lure the 23-year-old Ronaldo and reported the club to FIFA, but the governing body said no regulations had been broken.

"I suppose they think we have intervened in some way, but it's not like that and that's the truth,'' Calderon said. "We know that it's something between the player and Manchester United ... and we don't want to interfere.''

Calderon said Madrid would hesitate at paying a European transfer-record price tag of ?85 million (US$134 million) for the Portugal winger, as has been reported in the press.

"It seems a lot of money to me, but I don't want talk of this issue to continue,'' Calderon said.