Fergie not fazed by Ronaldo link

United boss proud of winger for winning World Player of Year award

Last updated: 13th January 2009

Fergie not fazed by Ronaldo link

Ferguson: Not fazed

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Sir Alex Ferguson says Manchester United will not be fazed by any new reports linking Real Madrid with a move for Cristiano Ronaldo.

United spent last summer fending off Real's interest in Ronaldo, who was crowned Fifa's World Player of the Year at a glittering ceremony in Zurich on Monday.

Reports in Spain on Tuesday claimed that Ronaldo and his agent had come to a secret agreement with Real president Ramon Calderon to join the Spanish giants next season.

However, Ferguson confirmed he is not worrying about any transfer matters and says the club have become accustomed to the situation.

"I said to you some months ago that we expect January to be one of those months," said Ferguson on Sky Sports News.

"We're not fazed by that now anyway. We have to accept it happens."

Drive and determination

The United manager praised Ronaldo for collecting his latest individual accolade following the winger's stunning 2007/08 season.

Ronaldo paid tribute to Ferguson and the club in his acceptance speech and the Scot acknowledged United's role in helping the 23-year-old to become the world's best.

He added: "It's a challenge everyone should set themselves, not just at Manchester United, but any young player no matter which club he is at has a dream of getting to the very top in football.

"In the case of Cristiano, we're all proud of him achieving that status.

"We think that, and he was saying it himself, he owes a lot to United in that respect. We nurtured him properly and encouraged him at the right times and developed him in the way he is now.

"The player must have the personal ambition, drive and determination to succeed as a person and a footballer, but the club helps.

"You look at the club as a place where you have to develop and set ambitions high and expectations high."