Real Madrid have moved to placate Manchester United after the Premier League champions threatened to report them to FIFA over perceived courtship of star man Cristiano Ronaldo - but branded the situation 'a problem between the player and his club'.

United boss Alex Ferguson last week slammed Madrid, irritated by the constant press speculation concerning a possible move, while the Liga champions declared an interest in the winger and coach Bernd Schuster admitted he was the main priority for the club.

On Tuesday an Old Trafford statement described United's growing irritation with Madrid while reiterating that the Portuguese is not for sale.

The Castillan club's president Ramon Calderon stated:

"We have not interfered with the contractual relationship Manchester United have with Cristiano Ronaldo. We are sorry that Manchester, a club with whom we have an excellent relationship, are upset, because Real Madrid do not have anything to do with this.

"Real Madrid have never negotiated with players that have an existing contract and are not going to do so, because we would not like it to happen with our own players.

"I am going to personally speak with [Manchester United chief executive] David Gill because I want to make this clear to him and explain that we would not want to influence a player to break a contractual relationship.

"We have had nothing to do with Ronaldo and regret, in the name of Madrid, any inconvenience that has been caused in this regard.

"It is the media that has produced this problem and we are not going to enter conflict with Manchester United, a club that is a friend, and with whom I hope to continue good relations."

Ronaldo has consistently appeared on the front pages of the Spanish capital's best-selling daily sports newspapers Marca and As, regarded in some areas as a mouthpiece for the club.

Calderon added that he is still interested in Ronaldo, should United decide to sell - and that any problems that exist are exclusively between him and the newly-crowned European champions.

"It is another thing if the club decides to sell this player," he stated. "What is happening is a problem between the player and his club.

"Now we want to talk about our own players and see who we want to add to the squad because we must not forget that this team were champions of La Liga with a record number of points."

United won the Champions League final against English rivals Chelsea in Moscow last week, with Ronaldo scoring the opening goal before missing a penalty in the shoot-out.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport