Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says the club would rather put Cristiano Ronaldo in the stands than sell him to Real Madrid.
Ferguson has met the Glazer family, who own the club, and said: "Their attitude is 'To hell with them'.
"They'd sit a player in the stand, I'm telling you, absolutely no doubt about it, just to prove a point."
Ronaldo has told Portuguese media he will clarify his position in "two or three days".
The 23-year-old is currently with the Portugal squad ahead of Euro 2008 after a season in which he inspired the Old Trafford club to a Premier League and Champions League double.
"They have been brilliant owners"
He has a deal with United which runs until 2012 but has so far refused to state publicly that he is to stay with the club.
Real Madrid manager Bernd Schuster has made no secret about his admiration for Ronaldo.
And United have threatened to report Real to Fifa for making their interest public.
But the Spanish outfit's president Ramon Calderon has defended their conduct, saying recently: "We know they [United] aren't a selling club. It is a problem between player and team."
Ferguson insists that the Glazers are determined to keep their prize asset, even if it means taking a tough line.
And, despite criticism of the Glazers when they took over the club in 2005, Ferguson praised them for the impact they have had at the club.
"They have been good to this club, believe me," he said. "They have been brilliant owners."
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