Sir Alex Ferguson has accused Real Madrid and Barcelona of using United's Cristiano Ronaldo as a pawn in their presidential election campaigns. Both Spanish giants, Real Madrid and European Champions FC Barcelona have been heavily linked with a move for the young Portuguese star.


Currently, Manchester Untited are in negotiations with Cristiano Ronaldo over a lucrative contract extension until 2010.


Last week, Ronaldo expressed that he is not in rush to accept any offer and that he will wait to sign any new deal.


Now it looks that Ferguson is trying out his own little tricks and negotiating tactics in claiming that Ronaldo is only used as a pawn trying to discredit the two Spanish clubs:


Ferguson claimed:

Let's be perfectly clear, Barcelona and Real Madrid have been doing this ever since I have been at this club. When the elections are on, the best player in the world is always used, there is no doubt about that. Cristiano is not silly enough not to realise he is being used as a pawn. They may be right, they may want him. But there is no doubt there is another motive to it and that is the elections.

But Sir alex Ferguson is absolutely wrong in bringing the election into the discussion because both Spanish Clubs just held both (for their own resons) controverse elections over the summer and therefore there are no election in sight over the next 4-5 years.


But Ferguson himself does not seem to be over-optimistic their star player Ronaldo will stay at Manchest United and could move away from Old Trafford:

There could be a limit. They might ask for X and we might only want to pay Y. But that is negotiation. Eventually, if both parties want it they will come to an agreement.

FC Barcelona Blog:
Hmmm, Ronaldo always expressed his desire to play in Spain one day. May be that day comes sooner than later. But at the end... we all do not know yet!

Ferguson´s should know better and should be much better informed. therefore I believe they are more of a tactical nature to persuade Ronaldo to stay. He probably will blow his (red) top if he should lose out again after claiming that losing out on Ronaldinho 3 years ago has been one of his biggest blows.
Interesting to see how the Ronaldo story ends.