London, June 24 : Spanish football club Real Madrid has ruled out chances of it paying 80 million pounds for Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Sun quoted club president Ramon Calderon as saying that: "We'll never pay 80-million pounds for one player."

The tabloid also revealed that Manchester United would not be allowed to let Ronaldo rot in the stands if the bid failed to come through.

FIFA rules state a player can walk away if he features in fewer than 10 per cent of his club's matches in a season.

Calderon, who has infuriated United boss Alex Ferguson with his public chasing of Ronaldo, now claims to be delighted the player has made public his desire to move to the Bernabeu.

He said: "We are very happy with the declaration of the player. But it does not depend on him, it depends on United."

United have maintained all along the Portuguese superstar would not be allowed to leave. They even threatened to force Ronaldo to watch the season from the stands.

But under section four of FIFA's articles for the status and transfer of players, it says: "An established professional who has, in the course of a season, appeared in less than 10 per cent of the official matches in which his club has been involved may terminate his contract prematurely on the grounds of sporting just cause."

This rule gives Ronaldo, 23, a strong hand in his battle to get out of United.

ANI