Manchester United insist there was no pre-arranged agreement with Real Madrid to sell Cristiano Ronaldo.

United chief David Gill was resolute that there had been no deal with Madrid until late on Wednesday evening. The club then announced the move on its website yesterday morning.

A United spokesman told The Sun: "David has asked me to assure you that at no point until last night has there ever been an agreement of any sort between Real Madrid and MU over anything to do with Cristiano Ronaldo."