Sir Alex Ferguson has hit out at Sepp Blatter's claim that Manchester United are treating Cristiano Ronaldo like a slave.
The FIFA president caused outrage with his comments, likening Ronaldo - who only signed a five-year contract with United 12 months ago - to a serf in feudal times.
Pictures of the Portugal winger sunning himself in Los Angeles this week certainly did not fit that description, although Ronaldo did agree when quizzed about Blatter's comments.
However, Ferguson takes a different view.
And, as he seems increasingly likely to stave off Real Madrid's continued attempts to sign the 23-year-old, he chose to admonish Blatter ahead of his side's 2-1 pre-season friendly win over Portsmouth in Nigeria last night.
"It was an unfortunate statement from someone in such a position," Ferguson told a pre-match press conference.
"Slavery was abolished many years ago.
"These days footballers can earn five or six million pounds a year.
"I do not want to dignify this kind of statement with a response but when you consider the history of slavery, it was a very unfortunate statement."
Ronaldo is not due back in action until October following a recent ankle operation but could return to United's training HQ at Carrington at the end of next month to step up his recovery programme.
Meanwhile, United took the honours in the first of three meetings in a month with Portsmouth.
Chris Eagles and Carlos Tevez did the damage for the English and European champions in last night's friendly against the FA Cup winners.
Both sides will expect improvement when they meet again in the Community Shield on August 10 and, more importantly still, the Barclays Premier League two weeks after that.
Should the Premier League ever manage to force through their badly-received plan for a 39th game on tour, it is to be hoped they keep ticket prices at a reasonable level.
For, while Nigeria as a whole and Abuja in particular are viewed as teeming with United supporters, the national stadium was sparsely populated last night, lending a further air of unreality to an already surreal occasion.
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Comment 1 - 7 of 7
Blatter is a pillock. Always has been and always will be. His statement means that all the pro footballers who have willingly signed contracts for work are all slaves, not just "the spotty one" So doesn't that make him an overseer of an organisation that employs slaves? Talk about the kettle calling the pot. @#$%
Blatter and his crony Platini have the penchant to overreact to issues emanating from English football. i think it is borne out of envy and undue arrogance. i will be very happy if [when] they are voted out. Blatter i can excuse for his ignorance and unguided emotions, but Platini betrayed our trust, he can never be forgiven...et tu Platini?
Abuja stadium has 60,000 capacity and the ticket price was too high. N25,000.[100 Pounds] N50,000, N200,000, N2M is not realistic. exchange rate is about 240 Naira to the pounds.
Why hasn't people call on Blatter to step down from his post? It is egregious to use that term so bluntly and disrespectfully. If Blatter is so nonchalant about the term, how does he really feel when people call out racial slurs against dark skin people? Not enough apparently, which is why FIFA has not come down @#$% teams and their supporters this pass year when there were numerous incidents where racial slurs were hurled at the players on the pitch.
Blatter's an idiot!! Fergie has every right to tell him to stick his comment up where the sun doesn't shine.
Blatter has some serious mental disease I guess. Should see a neuro-surgeon to get it fixed. It is a pity that he occupies such an important position. Hopefully his 'tyrannical' reign will come to an end soon.
im a united fan and i really am sick of all this ronaldo nonsense. i dont mind that ronaldo wants to play for real some day, he is obviously keen on a move but he hasent actually requested a transfer yet has he..no! most of the talking is being done by real madrid and blatter who i assume is a real fan, why he got involved at all is beyond me and slavery?? i wanna be a 100 grand a week slave please!
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