The Glazer family are confident enough to give Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson free reign in spending the £80m transfer fee received for Ronaldo. The Glazer family point to their record of backing Ferguson in the transfer market throughout the four years since their controversial takeover.

They insist that policy has not changed despite the ongoing credit crunch.

"The idea Manchester United are motivated by a debt burden is just not true," said a Glazer spokesman. "It is not an issue.

"The fact is Cristiano Ronaldo decided, after six years, it was time to move on and the manager said okay.

"Sir Alex Ferguson is in total control of his squad. He is empowered to make whatever decisions he thinks are in the best interests of Manchester United. That continues to be the case."