Real Madrid are cooling their interest in Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Daily Mail says United have been bracing themselves for the worst after repeated claims from Florentino Perez that he would mark his likely triumph in the forthcoming presidential elections by parading Ronaldo as his prize capture in a world-record £90million deal.

But sources close to the Bernabeu have revealed that Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery is now the prime target to provide extra flair on the flanks on a transfer hit-list that is topped by AC Milan's Kaka and also contains Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.