Manchester United chief executive David Gill revealed his club would naturally consider an offer of £135 million for Cristiano Ronaldo from rivals Manchester City, although he insisted their reported interest has been taken lightly at Old Trafford. City were sold to Arab investors Abu Dhabi United group last week and the businessman fronting the takeover, Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim, speculatively revealed that the Portugal international was at the top of transfer wish-list.
And with money being no object at Eastlands, Al Fahim insisted City would be prepared to pay in the region of £135 million to complete what would be the biggest transfer coup in the history of the game.
But Gill responded to City's audacious interest in the former Real Madrid target, insisting he was taking the reports with a 'pinch of salt', doubting the prospect of a serious offer would ever materialise.
"It was an interesting comment, I think it's a supporters-type comment," said Gill.
"He [Al Fahim] mentioned [Fernando] Torres and [Cesc] Fabregas in the same article so I think we will treat that with a pinch of salt."
While Gill maintained United's summer-long stance that Ronaldo is not for sale, successful in spite of persistent interest from Madrid, he did concede that United, like any other club, would reluctantly be forced to consider such an exorbitant fee.
"Ultimately we would discuss any offer with Sir Alex [Ferguson] and the owners, as that sort of money is very large for one person," he said.
"I have never met the gentleman [Al Fahim] so I can't believe he is serious at those sorts of levels. But that is a fantastic amount of money and would turn the industry upside down.
"However, we are not in the market to sell our best players."
After spending a little over £30 million to capture Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham a week ago, Gill announced he does not expect too much business to occur in January when the transfer window reopens.
United will, though, attempt to strike a permanent deal for Argentine Carlos Tevez understood to be in a similar region to what was agreed for Berbatov.
Gill said: "From the squad perspective, Sir Alex is very comfortable with it – the competition is first class.
"The only other piece of business we will look to do is to finalise the Carlos Tevez deal."
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