Madrid prepared to break the bank

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon insists that he will not be put off Cristiano Ronaldo by any asking price.

Calderon, who has refuted Manchester United's suggestions that his club are trying to unsettle the brilliant Portuguese ace, says money does not matter in this instance.

Real are very much on the trail of Ronaldo and appear confident they can get him, and it seems they would be more than willing to smash the world record they paid for Zineding Zidane.

"The price is not important," Calderon is quoted as saying in The Sun. "We had a player like Zidane who came here for Stg£47m and it was a magnificent investment. It's not a question of money but a question of efficiency."

United have lodged a formal complaint with Fifa about Real's advances for their prized asset - but Calderon says they should be flattered by their interest.

"The case of Cristiano does not affect the image of the club abroad. I would be proud if big clubs made multi-million offers for Real Madrid players," he said, also stating that Ronaldo will decide his own future and not United.

"In the end, if a player wants to leave - whatever the offer is - he will walk. The question is to give him guarantees of success."

Reports in England suggest that Alex Ferguson has told the United's board to make Ronaldo one of the highest-paid players in football to try and fend off Real.