Soccer News: Manchester United have failed with an official bid, believed to be about £9 million, for the France international Franck Ribery. David Gill, United's chief executive, contacted Marseille with a verbal offer but the French club told him they did not want to sell.

The rebuff is unlikely to prevent United from following up their interest in a midfielder who was voted Le Championnat's young player of the year. Ribery is unsettled at Marseille after the departure of the coach Jean Fernandez to Auxerre and United's cause is helped by the fact the player's agent, Bruno Heiderscheid, has been described as being "at war" with the Marseille president Pape Diouf.

Lyon are also interested in Ribery (23), who has just broken into the France team preparing for the World Cup. But Lyon's president Jean-Michel Aulas allegedly made a clandestine approach to him at the end of the season and infuriated Marseille by reportedly initiating talk of a transfer.

"United have acted with much more courtesy and delicacy than Lyon," Diouf said last night. "The answer I gave (to United) is exactly the same as I have said to Lyon. They are stubborn and they may try again, but he is not available."

Diouf said he would change his mind only if offered £35 million. But he also floated the possibility of a part-exchange deal involving Lyon's former Arsenal striker Sylvain Wiltord and the Brazilians Juninho and Kris.

Marseille are understood to have opened negotiations with Liverpool to buy Djibril Cisse for £8 million. They appear to have grasped the initiative from Gerard Houllier's Lyon.

Cristiano Ronaldo last night broke off from Portugal's preparations for the World Cup to absolve himself of any culpability for Alex Ferguson's fall-out with Ruud van Nistelrooy. Ronaldo confirmed he had had at least one training-ground confrontation with his United colleague but said he did not think it had played a significant part in the reasons for Ferguson ostracising the Dutchman.

"It was nothing much at all," he said. "Quarrels happen in all teams, in all professions . . . people are turning it into something it isn't."

Ronaldo first clashed with van Nistelrooy at United's training ground in February and again in the week before their final game of the season at home to Charlton Athletic. When Ferguson ordered van Nistelrooy out of the team hotel on the morning of the Charlton match, the striker's argument with Ronaldo was perceived as having contributed to the manager's reasons. In truth, Ferguson's grievances with the Dutchman are far more complex, mostly concerning his attitude since being dropped from the team for the League Cup final against Wigan Athletic.

Everton are on the brink of taking their spending to more than £14 million in 24 hours with the acquisition of the Wolves defender Joleon Lescott. The former England Under-21 international is expected to complete a £5.5 million move.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed his club's interest in experienced Real Madrid full back Roberto Carlos.

In an interview with Portuguese television station TVI, Mourinho confirmed his club's interest: "Roberto Carlos is 33 but for me he continues to be the best player in his position," said Mourinho. "We will have to be patient and wait to see what happens."

Roberto Carlos is under contract with Madrid for one further season but appears keen to leave the Bernabeu this summer.

Portuguese goalkeeper Hilario is expected to undergo a medical today before signing for Chelsea.