Manchester United have vigorously dismissed suggestions they have agreed to sell winger Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid at the end of the season.Real director Pedro Trapote reportedly told Spanish newspaper El Mundo a deal had been struck, but added "there are clauses keeping us from announcing it".
But BBC Manchester's Steve Wyeth said the news has been greeted with anger by United officials.
"It's been strongly dismissed, and with pretty colourful language," said Wyeth. Trapote, understood to be very close to club president Ramon Calderon, had gone on record to tell El Mundo: "We have already signed our top target for next summer.
"Is it Cristiano Ronaldo? It is Cristiano, there is no-one else. The thing is, it is better not to say anything right now."
But Wyeth, who is with the United team in Japan for their Fifa World Club Cup campaign, insists the claims have been met with disbelief by manager Sir Alex Ferguson and his team.
No official statement has yet emerged from the club, but the BBC has been told in no uncertain terms that Trapote's claims are inaccurate. (Source: BBC News)