Ramon Calderon: Real Madrid WILL sign Ronaldo

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon was adamant again yesterday that Cristiano Ronaldo will join the club before the beginning of the Spanish season.

Calderon insisted that Manchester United star Ronaldo remains his club's No.1 transfer target despite vows from Old Trafford that the Portugal star will not be sold.

Sir Alex Ferguson met Ronaldo for clear-the-air talks on Monday and claimed later in the week that there was no chance he would be quitting United for Spain.

However, Calderon believes Ferguson's optimism is little more than a ruse to get more money out of the Primera Liga giants, who are reportedly willing to pay close to £70m for the Champions League winner.

"This type (of transfer) is hard," Calderon said when asked about Ferguson's comments. "But we're going to go for it all the same.

"I suppose this is their way of letting us know clearly that they're not going to lower the price."

When asked about Ronaldo by the Madrid players on the first day of pre-season training, Calderon reportedly said: "Don't worry, we have it all sorted."

United manager Ferguson would be the ideal coach to lead a British soccer team at the 2012 London Olympics, said Seb Coe yesterday. Coe, organising committee chairman, said: "I would love to have him there."