The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Madrid

Real Madrid are quietly satisfied with the comments by FIFA president Sepp Blatter urging Manchester United to allow Cristiano Ronaldo to leave the club, Spanish newspapers said Friday.

Two sports newspaper, AS and Marca, had front-page coverage of Blatter's comments, in which he controversially described Ronaldo as being treated like a "modern-day slave" by United.

The head of world football insisted the player should be allowed to join Spanish champions if he wants to.

"Even FIFA supports us on the question of Ronaldo," AS quoted a source at Real as saying.

Ronaldo on Thursday said he agreed with Blatter's comments. "The president is correct, but I do not want to say more," he said.

Real Madrid are believed to be prepared to offer around 85 million euros (134 million dollars) for the 23-year-old and pay him nine million euros on a five-year deal.

Ronaldo, a boyhood Real fan, has consistently been linked with a move to the Spanish capital since the end of last season, after scoring an impressive 42 goals last term as United won both the Premier League and Champions League.

The management at Real believes that Manchester, who want to keep their star striker, who is under contract until 2012, will be eventually forced to reach a deal to let him go if he wants it, Spanish newspapers said.

Real have consistently denied they have reached a deal with Ronaldo, something the player confirmed on Thursday.

"There is no agreement with Real Madrid and I still don't know where I will be playing next season," Ronaldo said on Thursday, adding that he will be out for "10 to 12 weeks" to recover from an ankle operation.