Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson refused yesterday to discuss the future of winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

For over a month Ronaldo has been openly talking about his desire to join Real Madrid, despite Ferguson vowing not to sell the Portuguese star.

Ronaldo, who contributed 42 goals last season as the Red Devils won English and European titles, backed FIFA president Sepp Blatter's claim earlier this week that footballers are often bound to teams in a form of "modern slavery."

Ferguson wouldn't respond when asked about the comments after United's first preseason friendly ended in a 2-0 victory at his former side Aberdeen.

"We're here to talk about football," he said.

Ferguson was at Pittodrie to mark the 25th anniversary of his Aberdeen side's victory over Real Madrid in the now-defunct European Cup Winners Cup.

Ronaldo has almost four years left on his contract. While no transfer request has been submitted, the 23-year-old player has said he would like a transfer to Madrid.

Earlier yesterday in Stoke, Pele dismissed Blatter's comments in a Sky News interview that "in football there is too much modern slavery."

"You are a slave if you work without a contract or you don't get paid," said Pele, a three-time World Cup winner with Brazil. "If you have a contract then in any job you have to finish the contract. I think that when he finishes his contract, then he should be free to go wherever he wants to go."

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily July 13, 2008)