STEVE Coppell has warned Cristiano Ronaldo he will be taking a step down if he leaves Manchester United for Real Madrid.
Uncertainty has surrounded the Portuguese winger's future since United lifted the Champions League trophy in May. Since then the Spanish champions have embarked on a public pursuit of Ronaldo, with the 23-year-old's failure to speak about his future
further fuelling speculation.
Reading manager Coppell, a United winger of some distinction during the late 1970s and early 1980s before his career was prematurely ended by a knee injury at the age of 28, said: "I can only repeat what Tommy Docherty said to me.
"I will never forget it. Many years ago when I signed for United he said any move from United is a move down. I very much echo those thoughts."
However, Real Madrid are maintaining their pursuit despite the news Ronaldo will miss the start of the new season after undergoing ankle surgery.
The Spanish club's president Ramon Calderon said he was aware of Ronaldo's problem, and that if the 23-year-old wanted to leave Old Trafford then United would find it difficult to keep him.
Calderon said: "It depends on the player, on Ronaldo. Since I've known football it has been the case that the desires of the footballer are what decide matters.
"If Ronaldo wants to leave Manchester, he'll leave. If he wants to stay, he'll stay.
"I don't think you can keep anyone in a place where they don't want to be, not even in a family.
"But I insist that for a formal negotiation to start Manchester United will have to open their doors to us. Manchester have to want to talk."
On Ronaldo's ankle injury, Calderon added: "At the moment that is something which should only concern the player and United."
On Monday, Ronaldo underwent surgery on his right ankle but it will be at least a month before Professor Niek van Dijk, the Dutch ankle specialist who operated on him, can assess when he will be ready to return to action.
United, meanwhile, are resigned to losing Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant Carlos Queiroz, who is to become head coach of the Portugal national side after Luiz Felipe Scolari's departure.
Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins has denied that his club's manager Roberto Martinez is in the running to succeed Queiroz, while Barnsley manager Simon Davey has played down reports linking him with the job.
The full article contains 411 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
