Dubai meeting

CRISTIANO Ronaldo met Real Madrid officials during his mid-season break in Dubai.Sir Alex Ferguson gave his blessing to the trip after deciding to rest Ronaldo last weekend. But United were shocked to discover - after a Sunday Mirror Sport investigation - that Madrid officials had been staying at the same hotel.

Quizzed by United yesterday, Ronaldo insisted it was a chance meeting and that he had bumped into the Real delegation as he was leaving the hotel.

But in Spain, sources close to Real Madrid claim that club officials outlined their future plans to Ronaldo and his agent, who was with him. Real's delegation were in Dubai visiting a football academy in the area.

There is no suggestion that Ronaldo, who is 22 tomorrow, and Madrid were involved in illegal talks. But the Old Trafford hierarchy are becoming tired by the continued specualation linking their young star with a summer move to the Bernabeu. In Spain Ronaldo is openly named as Real's prime transfer target for the summer.

Ronaldo has a desire to play in Spain one day and both Real and Barcelona have made it clear they would be interested in signing him. Ferguson has insisted Ronaldo, who still has more than three years to run on his current contract, is not for sale. Old Traf ford chief executive David Gill has said United would not even sell the Madeira-born ace for a world record £45m.

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