Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has rubbished suggestions that Real Madrid have the pulling power to lure Cristiano Ronaldo away from Old Trafford, insisting the European champions do business when they see fit, not when another club dictates.
Post-match celebrations had barely begun in Moscow after United's momentous Champions League win over Chelsea before Ronaldo's future was once again the subject of intense debate.
The Portuguese player's own cryptic comments on the matter have hardly helped clarify the situation, leaving the door open for Real to make a move for the player, the Spanish champions have coveted for so long.
In contrast, Ferguson has no doubt Ronaldo will stay.
"When you want to keep someone you work hard to do it," he said. "That is a fact not lost on Manchester United but it is a fact not lost on Real Madrid either.
"We sold them Ruud van Nistelrooy and David Beckham because we wanted to."
The last point is particularly pertinent as the departures of Van Nistelrooy and Beckham are being used in some quarters as evidence of Real's ability to prise players away from Old Trafford.
However, Ferguson is keen to retain the majority of his Champions League winning squad, although young defender Gerard Pique is bound for Barcelona, while the future of injury-plagued Louis Saha is also open for major debate.
"We will not be moving anyone out," confirmed Ferguson, who stated he has no intention of going anywhere either.
"It is not something I have even thought about," he added. "I just need to look at the squad and know I have enough cover for next season as we have three extra games, one in the Super Cup and two in the World Club Championship to cope with."
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)