Real Move Cost Ronaldo $5 Million, Says Moratti

Ronaldo's decision to leave Inter Milan for European champions Real Madrid cost him at least $5 million, the president of the Italian club Massimo Moratti told Spanish television Thursday.

"In economic terms Inter came out of the whole deal very well because Ronaldo had to pay $5 million out of his own pocket in order to compensate us for lost sponsorship money," said Moratti.

But the Inter president admitted he was unhappy about the circumstances in which the Brazilian player, who was top scorer in this year's World Cup, had left the club.

"Inter did what they had to do, but we were the victims and it was Ronaldo who came out of it looking bad," he said.

The 25-year-old striker, who spent most of his last three seasons at Inter on the treatment table following a succession of serious knee injuries, made it clear he wanted to leave the Italian club soon after he had helped Brazil to their World Cup triumph in June.

After a long-drawn out transfer saga, Ronaldo eventually made the move to Real on the final day of the European transfer deadline in a deal worth an estimated 45 million euros.

But Moratti said the whole matter had left a sour taste in his mouth.

"Ronaldo played a great World Cup and finished as a winner, but Inter won nothing last season. That makes it difficult to forget what he did," he said.

Moratti said the Ronaldo deal included an option for a Real player to join Inter when the transfer window reopens in December or an equivalent cash sum of 10 million euros.

Inter have made it clear that the only Real players in which they are interested are Argentine winger Santiago Solari or former Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman.

"At the moment it is 50-50," said Moratti. "We can either ask for the money or for the player, who will be either Solari or McManaman, but Hector Cuper will make the final decision."

Both players have said they have no intention of leaving Real this season.