Real chief declares Ronaldo hunt ‘dead’

REAL MADRID president Ramon Calderon has rubbished reports they have an agreement in place to take Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo to the Bernabeu next summer, insisting the issue is “totally dead”.

The Madrid supremo also responded to Alex Ferguson’s latest attack of the Spanish giants by claiming they would not be entering into a mud-slinging contest with the Old Trafford outfit.

Ferguson has been a fierce critic of Madrid for their part in this summer’s long-running transfer saga involving Ronaldo, and the Scotsman vented his anger again on Thursday after fresh speculation linking the Primera Liga champions with the Portuguese winger.