Carlos Attacks Spain, Real

Manchester United's assistant manager Carlos Queiroz has launched a bizarre attack on Real Madrid and the Spanish nation in general regarding what he conceives as attempts to "naturalise" Cristiano Ronaldo. Madrid have made no secret of their desire to recruit Ronaldo, prompting United to consider reporting them to Fifa, but Queiroz feels Madrid's courting of the player is about more than their wish to sign him, claiming it is part of the long history and rivalry between Portugal and Spain.

"Cristiano Ronaldo will never be Spanish, as they will never take Olivenca again," he said, referring to the small town on the disputed border between the two countries. "They already did the same with Christopher Columbus, and it now seems they want to naturalise Cristiano Ronaldo. Have they already forgotten what we did to them in the past? We will never lose our patience."

With Portugal preparing for Euro 2008, Queiroz knows the furore surrounding Ronaldo's future could not have come at a worse time. "It's being done in a manner to distract the Portugal team, at the height of their preparations for the European Championships," he told the Portuguese newspaper Jornal do Noticias. "But I am convinced that despite pressure from the Spanish sporting press he will not accept to change his nationality.

"However, it is an attack with a well-defined strategy and Portugal should be worried about that."