Last Friday, we reported that Sir Alex Ferguson was confidently asserting that Cristiano Ronaldo would be ‘mine, all mine’ for at least another season at Old Trafford. However, good old Roman Calderon, a brilliant example of someone who never gives up, is now begging to differ.

The Daily Mirror report that the Real Madrid chairman is still hopeful of sealing the £70million deal before the start of the Spanish season, does somebody want to tell him or shall I? Or were Fergie’s comments an attempt to ward off the Spanish champions, or even make them up their offer for the player?

“This type (of transfer) is hard,” Calderon said when asked about Ferguson’s comments. “But we’re going to go for it all the same.

“I suppose this is their way of letting us know clearly that they’re not going to lower the price.”

When asked about Ronaldo by the Madrid players on the first day of pre-season training, Calderon reportedly said: “Don’t worry, we have it all sorted.”

Will the Scot be left with egg on his face when Ronnie leaves rainy Manchester for Spain? He’s certainly raised the stakes with last week’s comments, and you have to hand it to him for acting cool as a cucumber.