Glazers will back Fergie, says spokesman

Alex Ferguson will decide how much of the world record £80m transfer fee Manchester United are to receive for Cristiano Ronaldo he wants to spend, a spokesman claimed tonight

In the wake of United’s confirmation that a bid from Real Madrid for the Ballon D’Or winner had been accepted, supporters questioned how much of the cash Ferguson would get to spend given the Old Trafford outfit’s £650m debt mountain.

While there is a general understanding of why the question is being asked, the Glazer family point to their record of backing Ferguson in the transfer market throughout the four years since their controversial takeover.

They insist that policy has not changed despite the ongoing credit crunch.

So, while they refuse to put a figure on the funds Ferguson might wish to spend, within reason the Scot will get what he wants.

“The idea Manchester United are motivated by a debt burden is just not true,” said a Glazer spokesman. “It is not an issue.

“The fact is Cristiano Ronaldo decided, after six years, it was time to move on and the manager said OK.

“Sir Alex Ferguson is in total control of his squad. He is empowered to make whatever decisions he thinks are in the best interests of Manchester United. That continues to be the case.”

It means Ferguson is behind the concrete approach for Wigan’s Antonio Valencia which Latics chairman Dave Whelan is expecting within the next fortnight, and he will be the one who decides if United should make Bayern Munich a “crazy” offer for Franck Ribery and the level they should ultimately go to.

Not that United are completely immune from the credit crunch, given corporate seats will be difficult to shift in their entirety in the coming season, even though the Red Devils are bidding for an unprecedented fourth consecutive league title.

However, the impact on Ferguson will be negligible.

“Nothing that has happened over the past four years would lead you to believe the owners are not going to continue investing in the team,” added the spokesman.

“A substantial number of world-class players have been brought to the club in the past few years and that will still be the case.”

Indeed, given confirmation US finance giant Aon are to become new shirt sponsors in 2010, a positive spin on the past two weeks would emphasise the removal of two areas of uncertainty, allowing the club to focus on what lies ahead free from the spectre of future problems.

“Two big issues have now been removed which, in its own way, is good for everyone,” the Glazer spokesman added.

In any event, according to PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor, Ferguson will have let Ronaldo leave on the basis that Wayne Rooney is the man he really cannot afford to be without.

Taylor said: “It is an interesting question and a difficult decision but as an Englishman, if I was asked to make a choice between the two I would have Wayne Rooney.

“Wayne has not been far away from being one of the best players in the world for a long time and certainly the way he finished off the season bodes well for Manchester United and England.

“Anyone would want a player of Cristiano Ronaldo’s calibre in their team but I would certainly not view his departure as a backward step for Manchester United at all.”

Rooney’s outstanding form for England, where he has been used in his favoured position just behind a main striker, suggests Ferguson might be thinking that way for the 23-year-old at United too.

Despite claiming 12 months ago he had not been fair to Rooney by playing him out wide, Ronaldo’s ineffective defending meant Ferguson was forced to utilise him in that role again towards the end of the season.

Ronaldo’s exit allows Ferguson to reshape his team slightly to make the most of Rooney’s blossoming talent.

There were also signs last season – quite apart from his reaction to being substituted against Manchester City – that Ronaldo was more interested in himself than his club, posturing that will not be missed by Taylor.

“Although he has become more of a team player there was still a significant individual element to the way Ronaldo played,” said Taylor.

“Manchester United have always had a very strong team ethic, so it will be interesting to see how Ronaldo’s style fits in to the pattern at Real Madrid.”