Real Madrid president Florentino Perez breaks silence over Cristiano Ronaldo
Perez claims he only found out about Ronaldo's wishes from a newspaper article and says he is yet to speak to his star man
![Florentino Perez has finally spoken about Cristiano Ronaldo's desire to leave the club](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2016/05/12/10/rafa-benitez-sacked.jpg)
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Louise Thomas
Editor
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez admitted he has not spoken with Cristiano Ronaldo about his desire to leave the club.
But the 70 year-old, speaking in an interview to mark his unopposed re-election as the club's supreme leader, backed the Portuguese star in his battle to clear his name of tax offences and insisted that the former Manchester United man remains a Madrid player
"Cristiano has a contract and he is a Real Madrid player," Perez told Spanish radio station Onda Cero.
"I have not talked with Cristiano.... but they tell me has been treated badly in this country. I have found everything out through the newspapers.
"The last time that I talked with Cristiano was in Cardiff, after the game. What happened with the tax authorities was after the game.
"Life throws up unexpected situations but one has to take them on and find a solution."
Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are the two clubs most keenly pursuing the 31-year-old forward's signature, but Perez skipped over talk of a sale by pricing Ronaldo out of the market.
"The clause for Cristiano is £1bn. We have not had an offer from Cristiano... the Sheikh at PSG is a friend of mine and he hasn't called me nor have we talked.
"This is all very strange. Cristiano is a good guy, I will have to talk with Cristiano and see what's happening."
And Perez vigorously backed the Portugal skipper, claiming he will be cleared of tax charges against his name and dismissing suggestions Ronaldo's desire to leave could be remedied by the club picking up any potential fine.
"I will always defend Cristiano as a person and as a footballer. He's a very good person.
"Cristiano definitely didn't want us to pay his fine... he isn't like that.
"I'm sure that Cristiano meets all his tax requirements, it must be a confusion that will be cleared up.
"Cristiano is not angry about who has to pay his fine.
"The only thing I know is that Cristiano is very angry with the treatment he has received in the press."
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