It’s fair to say that relations between Manchester United and Real Madrid have reached a new low during the month of June. The reason? A player that goes by the name of Cristiano Ronaldo, who has improved so much in the past couple of seasons, that most football managers would forsake a kidney to have him among their flock.

The Times reports that the feud continues apace, with Real Madrid claiming that there has been no wrongdoing with regard to their pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo (apart from the occasional love letter from Roman Calderon). United have reported the Spanish champions to FIFA for unsettling their prize asset, something that the Spaniards are at pains to deny.

But Calderon is adamant his club have no case to answer. “They don’t have any evidence because nothing has happened,” he said. “All there is is what the papers say and rumours that the player seems to want to leave. But at the moment a move is impossible because United don’t want to sell him.

“It’s United’s right [to complain] but we haven’t done anything and we are not going to do anything. It’s a matter between the player and his club.

“This Cristiano matter does not worry me nor am I obsessed by it,” he told Spanish newspaper, Marca. “While he doesn’t play for Madrid all we can do is hope, although it’s clear that he would be a great signing and would adapt well to our squad.”

Who knows what goes on behind the scenes, although the powers-that-be at Old Trafford will try every trick in the book if it means keeping their mercurial talent at the club. Ultimately, it appears that Real have done very little wrong, especially compared to the repeated tapping-up of players that Manchester United have become renowned for over the years.