YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP):

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Alex Ferguson called Real Madrid a "mob" and said yesterday he would not want to go into business with the Spanish team.

Ferguson was responding to a report in Spanish newspaper El Mundo that said the two clubs had a gentleman's agreement to send Cristiano Ronaldo to Madrid at the end of the season.

"Do you think I would enter into a contract with that mob?" Fergu-son said after United's 5-3 win over Gamba Osaka at the Club World Cup. "No chance. I would not sell them a virus.

"That's a no," Ferguson added. "There is absolutely no agreement at all between the clubs."

Expressed interest

Ronaldo pushed for a move during the offseason and the Spanish champions repeatedly expressed interest but United refused to sell the 23-year-old Portugal winger, who is under contract with United through 2012.

Ronaldo, who has not hidden his desire to play in Spain one day, refused to talk about Madrid, saying he is only focussed on winning the Club World Cup.

Ferguson hailed Ronaldo's performance yesterday after the winger scored the game's second goal.

Great ability

"Cristiano has great ability," Ferguson said. "He could have scored two or three goals tonight."

Ronaldo had been linked with a move to Madrid since the end of last season when he scored 42 goals to lead United to the Champions League and Premier League titles.

Madrid was rumoured to be offering a world-record transfer fee for Ronaldo.