Blatter would back Ronaldo move

Fifa president Sepp Blatter believes Cristiano Ronaldo should be allowed to leave Manchester United for Real Madrid - if the winger wants such a switch.

The Spanish champions are yet to make a formal bid but Ronaldo, 23, has said it would be a "dream" to play for Real.

Blatter insists players should be free to play where they want, comparing transfer trends to "modern slavery".

"I'm always in favour of protecting the player and if the player wants to leave let him leave," he told Sky News.

"If the player wants to play somewhere else, then a solution should be found because if he stays in a club where he does not feel comfortable to play then it's not good for the player and for the club.

"I think in football there's too much modern slavery in transferring players or buying players here and there, and putting them somewhere.

"We are trying now to intervene in such cases. The reaction to the Bosman law is to make long-lasting contracts in order to keep the players and then if he wants to leave, then there is only one solution, he has to pay his contract."

Portugal international Ronaldo, who scored 42 goals as United won the Premier League title and Champions League last season, has a deal until 2012 and the club have repeatedly said he is not for sale.

However, that has not stopped Real president Ramon Calderon pursuing his services and he echoed Blatter's comments last week, saying that Ronaldo will be the one to ultimately decide his future.