Cristiano Ronaldo is a Real Madrid player now, says Ramon Calderon

The long drawn-out summer transfer stories have yet to begin, but Real Madrid have started the ball rolling by suggesting that Cristiano Ronaldo is already committed to the Spanish giants. In an interview with French radio, Roman Calderon, the former Real Madrid president who resigned in January after a voting scandal, said that the Manchester United winger will move to the club next season thanks to the ground work put in last year to secure his services.

And although Calderon refused to name the player directly, it was clear who the Spaniard was referring to. He told RMC: “Anyone who 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, but all I can say is that thanks to the difficult and laborious work that I did last year, he is already formally a Madrid player, subject obviously to him being able to sign the relevant contract.”

Calderon has yet to be officially replaced at Real Madrid, whose presidential elections take place this summer.

Ronaldo has been the catalyst of constant speculation linking him to Real Madrid. It is also claimed that Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, has an agreement for Real to take the player to Spain for a record £75 million.