[Tattooed Crusader]

I'm amazed that after all the nonsense with the Ashley Cole transfer saga etc, that FIFA / UEFA haven't been brought into this to shut Real Madrid up. Oh wait, I forgot ... Real are the club that transcend all laws, so whatever they want to do and say is OK. But if United or Chelski said that they "admired Lionel Messi and were making signing him their top priority for the summer", you can be damn sure that FIFA / UEFA would hit them with a tapping up charge, among other things.

So perhaps United ought to let Ronaldo go to Real Madrid - for a minimum of 500 million pounds - payable in cash in one lump sum. No structured settlements, no player + cash deals, no incentive bonuses. The message to Real Madrid should be - "Pony up 500 million cash or shut the fuck up and sit down"