Madrid target Man Utd friendship

Ronaldo is one of a number of high-profile names linked with a move to Madrid

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez promises that he will not fall out with Manchester United over his pursuit of Cristano Ronaldo.

Perez, who returned to the role he held between 2000 and 2006 on 1 June, has publicly targeted the forward.

But after United's angry response to Madrid's approach last summer, he told The Times that he will take more care.

"If I had to choose between the friendship with United and Ronaldo, I would choose the friendship," he said.

"Plus, I have never said that Cristiano will arrive in June. That is an arrogant and false statement.

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"I shall be talking with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and chief executive David Gill to build bridges."

Fifa rejected a complaint from United last June that Real's overtures amounted to an illegal approach, but the La Liga side were warned against inducing the player to breach his contract in the future.

It is unlikely that the Old Trafford hierarchy will be impressed with Perez's claim that the Spanish club could exploit a clause in the 24-year-old's contract which runs until 2012.

"From what I hear, there is an agreement between the player and his club," he said.

"If one day there is a chance of him playing for Real Madrid, that would be an honour for us."

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson denied in December that there was any secret arrangement to sell Ronaldo at the end of the season.

"Do you think I would enter into a contract with that mob? No chance. I would not sell them a virus," he said.

"Sometimes I get really annoyed with them. But we know their game. I think we should play ours and ignore them."

After David Beckham's switch in 2003, the clubs did successfully negotiate left-back Gabriel Heinze's move to the Bernabeu in 2007, after United disputed his own claim of a gentleman's agreement that would allow him to sign for Liverpool.

Perez's previous reign coincided with the Galactico era that brought Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo and David Beckham to the club.

In less than a week in charge, he has already spoken of his admiration of AC Milan's Kaka, Valencia's David Villa and Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery.

Manuel Pellegrini has been appointed manager in place of Juande Ramos after being lured from Villarreal.