Transfer talk unsettling Cristiano Ronaldo, says Charlton

BARCELONA, Apr 2 (Reuters) Manchester United director Bobby Charlton believes speculation about the future of Cristiano Ronaldo is unsettling the player and the club.

''Ronaldo is having a marvellous season and he is enjoying himself at Manchester United,'' Charlton told reporters at the Laureus sports awards in Barcelona today.

''I can see no reason at all why he should want to play for another club. It's really destabilising for both the club and the player to have all this speculation about his future. All of it is coming from abroad and none from our club.'' Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has said they want to sign the United forward, while Spanish media have reported that Barcelona are interested in the 22-year-old.

Charlton also said if United maintain their form and go on to win the league title it would rank as one of Alex Ferguson's biggest successes in his 21 years in charge of the club.

''I would say that it would be one of Sir Alex's greatest achievements at Manchester United if we won the league title,'' said the former England international.

''Winning the championship has never been so difficult since Chelsea's emergence and it will be absolutely sensational.'' Charlton also called for the media to take the pressure off England manager Steve McClaren following the national side's lacklustre start to their Euro 2008 qualification campaign.

''He's not been in the job that long and I think people should leave him alone to get on with it,'' he said.

''The present atmosphere is certainly not conducive to working well. It is bound to affect you.'' ''I can only compare it to 1966 when Alf Ramsey was in charge. He allowed the press in from two to four pm every Thursday and after that they had to go away and let him get on with the job. The press have to realise that they, too, have a responsibility in this.'' REUTERS PDS ND1850