The Real Madrid president, Ramón Calderón, accused Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday of being "a little envious" of the nine-time European champions as he brazenly attempted to apportion blame for his failed pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo onto the Manchester United winger.

Real's interest in Ronaldo may allegedly be at an end, but the war of words between the Spaniards and United has continued with Ferguson last week describing Gabriel Heinze as a pawn in their quest for the Portuguese international and again condemning their ties with the fascist dictatorship of General Franco.

Calderón, speaking to Spanish television station Intereconomia, yesterday responded: "Ferguson does not have much affection for us and is a little envious for not having won as many European Cups. He does not know what he is talking about. He does not know that when Franco was alive we went 17 years without a league win. We were the team of the establishment because we didn't have a single thing to eat!"

As for his summer-long attempt to sign Ronaldo, Calderón claimed: "I didn't tell anyone that I was signing Cristiano Ronaldo. He said that he wanted to come - I didn't say it - but he had a commitment that obliged him to stay where he is."