Ronaldo agreed to join Real Madrid six months ago
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Former Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo agreed to join Los Blancos last December, but everyone at both Manchester United and Real kept the deal a secret.
It was on April 15 that Calderón dropped the first public hint that the World Player of the Year was on the way to the Spanish capital.
He said: "Whoever becomes the next president will have at his disposal one of the best players in the world, who is already formally committed to Real Madrid. I cannot give any names at this stage.
"The only thing yet to be done is for the relevant contracts to be signed."
Calderón was the most powerful man at Los Merengues until he stepped down in mid-January, and he is adamant he masterminded Ronaldo's £80 million world-record transfer six months ago.
He told The Sun: "Yes, I did it at that time. That was the time to do that. I'm very proud. For me it's a pleasure and an honour to be able to do that."
He also claims United knew all about the deception, saying: "Let's say it was a gentleman's agreement that said in order not to bother Manchester last season, because Sir Alex Ferguson also wanted to keep the player.
"For this reason we decided to wait until this season and that is what has happened. I think it's good for everyone - Manchester United, the player and Madrid.
"I did what I had to do. It was at that time when we had to agree the transfer and now it's another president who will present him.
"As far as I knew, he got the agreement with the club. He wanted to leave at the end of this season. That was what he agreed with the club and therefore it was easy, knowing that the player wanted to come to Real Madrid, to get a deal let's say. We agreed everything and he decided to come."
And Calderón's claims has been backed by former Real defender Fabio Cannavaro.
He told La Stampa: "Cristiano Ronaldo was already bought by the old management before Florentino Pérez and they almost got Kaká, but they ran out of time."
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It was on April 15 that Calderón dropped the first public hint that the World Player of the Year was on the way to the Spanish capital.
He said: "Whoever becomes the next president will have at his disposal one of the best players in the world, who is already formally committed to Real Madrid. I cannot give any names at this stage.
"The only thing yet to be done is for the relevant contracts to be signed."
He told The Sun: "Yes, I did it at that time. That was the time to do that. I'm very proud. For me it's a pleasure and an honour to be able to do that."
He also claims United knew all about the deception, saying: "Let's say it was a gentleman's agreement that said in order not to bother Manchester last season, because Sir Alex Ferguson also wanted to keep the player.
"For this reason we decided to wait until this season and that is what has happened. I think it's good for everyone - Manchester United, the player and Madrid.
"I did what I had to do. It was at that time when we had to agree the transfer and now it's another president who will present him.
"As far as I knew, he got the agreement with the club. He wanted to leave at the end of this season. That was what he agreed with the club and therefore it was easy, knowing that the player wanted to come to Real Madrid, to get a deal let's say. We agreed everything and he decided to come."
And Calderón's claims has been backed by former Real defender Fabio Cannavaro.
He told La Stampa: "Cristiano Ronaldo was already bought by the old management before Florentino Pérez and they almost got Kaká, but they ran out of time."
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