For every job I have ever had, I have signed a contract. When I wanted to move on, I simply gave two weeks notice that I would be leaving. No one 'sold' me or 'bought' me on a transfer market like a slave.
Ronaldo is an employee of a business like any other who wants to opt out of his contract.

Raymond, Los Angeles, USA

He needs to learn the proper way to show disgust with his salary. Instead of saying he's a slave, he should take the Latrell Sprewell example and say that he can't stay at ManU as he needs can't afford to "feed his family."

Tom, Newbury, Berkshire

If the contract is not binding then:
Reduce Ronaldo's salary to what it was before he signed the new contract
Reduce it by a further 50% for every week he is not available to play, and continue with this until his transfer to Real Madrid, afetr all he cannot be focused on giving his all for United

N W Shannon, Par, UK

"Money doesn't buy you happiness, but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery" - Spike Milligan

Kevin, Salisbury, UK

You could pay off my mortgage in a week. You are quite far from being a slave. Grow up.

Ian Griffiths, Merseyside, UK

Slavery has never been contractual Mr. Blatter !

Nuno , Lisbon, Portugal

Aren't slaves unpaid? Surely Ronaldo is therefore a servant...

gavin, england, uk

If Blatter's views become popular among players, clubs should devise a new legally vetted contract which would bind a player to a club for three years during which time he can neither be tapped, nor want out. After all, clubs invest and develop players, so some loyalty is expected from the players

Ramesh, New delhi, India

I am appalled at Mr. Blatters and Ronaldos comments, it would appear their do not truly understand the concept of the word slave and the suffering that was imposed upon this group. I for one would not be sad to see Ronaldo go, is antics towards the end of the season. Good riddance.

David Elletson, York,

It was the same story with Brazil's Ronaldo, who turned his back on Inter after the 2002 WC and insisted on a move to Real. Great players who can't make big money playing at home always move to foreign soil. For them it's a job. Fans must accept that. If you want loyalty, grow your own players.

Pat, Voorhees, NJ,

Have I gone mad?
Real say United should be proud to sell their best player to them? Blatter says Ronaldo and others, payed disgusting sums of money incomprehendable to the average hard working Westerner let alone a third world citizen, are slaves. Said player agrees.
The football world's disgraced

Tim, glasgow,

If Ronaldo doesn't want to stay...let him go if he wants it that badly...even if he doesn't move to Real he's already lost the respect of the fans...I know he's lost mine...Man Utd will survive without him...

Anamaria, Bucharest,

It seems professional sports people are more and more interested in the money and less and less in enjoying it.

Why so many people still spend so much of their money supporting these people is a bit of a mystery. Must be something missing in their lives.

Alan Heaton, Frankfurt, Germany

Keep these players on the field and out of press conferences -- it totally ruins them for admiration.

Ronaldo: "You know what I said, what I want and what I would like." Lack of compliance is the same, in his mind, as slavery.

This makes me sick.

Carson, Leatherhead,

What a Complete Utter National Treasure this guy is!

Kevin Browne, Reading, England

A contract is a contract. In the tough world of business those that break the contract normally have to pay. Let him go and the contract should allow MU to claim money back from him. If the contract doesn't say that, then MU should also be looking for a new lawyer as well as a new player.

Mike, Moscow, Russia

Where was Blatter when all Levante players in the spanish liga were not paid for months. Now he's saying a player that is paid 120k a week is in modern slavery.

In my own opinion, he is not a fit and proper person to lead world football,because he is unjust.

Hakeem, Dagenham, England

What an insult to the memory of people who really were slaves .....................

Rob, London, England

This goes further than football. It's about honouring a commitment, shaking hands and sticking to it. Solicitors charge the earth to draw up a contract then charge the earth again to get their client out of it. Wouldn't it be nice if his agent and solicitor told Ronaldo to do the right thing-we wish

simon, chelmsford, england

A million dollars every month, with Ronaldo and Blatter calling it slavery?
For that kind of money.....lead to your master!

Of course, its all very childish schoolyard antics - let the spoilt brat go to wherever he wants.At the end of the day, Man Utd will be better off without him.

Tom T, Delray Beach, Florida

I think that 98% of you don't know what slave full does mean

Ruben, Barcelona,

It's absolutely ridiculous - and totally irresponsible - for a man in Blatter's position to say something so utterly insensitive and incorrect. You could argue that there are many places in the world where various forms of slavery are commonplace - Old Trafford football ground is not one of them.

Bianca Franqueira, Nottingham, Notts

All i know is that most portuguese people dont agree with Ronaldo, the majority of the comments posted online go towards being loyal to MU since he has a contract he should respect it.

Maria Lisa, Cascais, Portugal

"If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to." Dorothy Parker
What a shame that he does not take his role as mentor to millions of young people more seriously.........how unfortunate that someone so talented has absolutely no concept of professionalism

Amanda Storey, Bridgetown, Barbados

2 very dillusional people. Blatter is a complete joke to football as is Ronaldo. It was so obvious his intentions after minutes from winning champs league. Good riddance, if only Sepp would step down from his foolish reign...is everyone in the game afraid to criticise him as nobody actually does.

Chris Byfield, Hockley, Birmingham

Disgusting lack of loyalty... they only thing he is a slave to is money...and his own self sattisfying greed. He represents everything that is wrong with football, and the greed of society in general. The missed penalty should have taught him a lesson...pure arrogance!!

Mohamed Negm, Slough, Berkshire

Cristiano must be emancipated!!!

Perry Stalsis, Toronto, Canada

Ronaldo does not seem to realise that he is a representative of his country. If he his happy for the rest of the world to think of the Portugese as spoilt money grabbing posers he should just carry on the wqay he is.
He owes Man U a huge debt because they have made him the player he is.

Martin Briggs, Heversham, England

If Ronaldo finds that ManU are holding him as a slave, he should just retire from playing football. How can anyone making the amount of money he is justify in saying that he is being treated like a slave? It's disgraceful and disgusting that he would feel this way. It just makes me dislike him more.

Ashley, hamilton, Canada

Agree with Ed - Ronaldo has written himself out of Utd's history when he could've been a legend. When he grows more mature perhaps he will regret his decision making.

Compare and contrast to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - a humble man and legend at Old Trafford. Ron's got a lot of growing up to do.

Matt, Manchester,

A contract is a two-way agreement.

Therefore, if Ronaldo is 'enslaved' by Manchester United, the club is equally 'enslaved' by Ronaldo.

Ian Tinn, Slough, England

Ronaldo is acting like a spoilt brat - I hope the Man U greats snub him in the future. He should be fined, Blatter sacked on grounds of mental instability and the hatred he shows towards English clubs.

Ronaldo was 'forgiven' after his antics assisting Rooney's red card, it just goes to show - brat!

Paul, Leeds,

Blatter and Ronaldo should be made to watch 'Roots' and find out what real slaves went through. Then they should be made to apologise. Having said that the slave trade was largely British so maybe we should apologise for that also.

glyn, telford, shropshire

Sepp Blatter should become a trade unionist for the rest of us who to work like slaves to put a roof over our heads and feed ourselves for most of our lives, rather than trying to make life even more comfortbale for the very rich.

mike, London, UK

It would take most of my neighbours over a hundred years, working seven days a week, to earn what Ronaldo does in a week. Poor boy, he can't leave MUFC, so he's a slave? Try living as two billion people do in this world, Sepp.

John Orford, Balingasag, Philippines

As a Liverpool supporter, I would love it if United were stupid enough to "leave him to rot on the subs bench" as Andrew in London suggests. Not only would they lose their most influential player (by a mile), but they wouldn't get any money from selling him either. LOL!

Jerry, Boston,

'Ronaldo is not a slave more like he is in some oppressive form of bonded labour.'

Well Adrian, lucky he has you to give him a hug and make it all better. He signed a 4 yr contract, he should be man enough to honour it instead of expecting the world to revolve around him and his petulant whims.

Steven, Watford,

During Blatters presidency some kids in India & Pakistan made footballs to the detriment of their health and education. Some of these balls carry the FIFA logo. If he truly wants to see the 'modern slavery' , he needs to look under his nose

CHRIS , Manchester , uk

I am currently reading Roots by Alex Haley. I would recommend it to the parties involved here to find out what the word slavery really means. I don't see too many whip scars on Ronaldo's back or sores around his wrists and ankles from being chained up in his own filth for months on end.

Miriam, London,

If the 'slaves' earn over £6M in a year, it takes 210 years to get that amount on £30,000 a year

alison, Burnley, uk

The poor child has to kick a ball around a field a whole two months in order to become a millionaire and thus attain financial independence for life.

Show some sympathy. He is indeed a slave and the european court of human rights should take up his case.

MD, Milton Keynes,

To suggest that the contract entered into by Ronaldo and the wages he is now paid are that of 'slavery' is an insult to the memory of the millions of slaves from around the world.

Blatter is an absolute disgrace to suggest this and should be sacked from his post immediately.

Darren, Manchester,

Ronaldo, what a 'SADDO'......correction! The game has been corrupted. Supporters? What fools - paying inflationary gate prices to boost the wages of players, most of whom come from abroad anyway.

Eons ago, most players and their supporters were locals -dads could afford to take their kids!

Shirley Bowen, Blackpool, UK

Will the West African and Caribean delegates take Blatter to task over such insulting language. I wonder why not.

Steve, London,

I always find it distgusting that football clubs actually believe that they "own" human beings. Sepp Blatter used the incorrect language, Ronaldo is not a slave more like he is in some oppressive form of bonded labour. Ronaldo can still feel trapped no matter how much money he earns.

Adrian, London, England.

Best thing Man Utd could do is leave him to rot on the subs bench! That would send a pretty clear message that no player is bigger than the club, or game.
As for Blatter, it is amazing that he can say such thing about slavery on £120k per week, and still be in a job.

Andrew, Hatfield, UK

Get Blatter out of Fifa quickly, he's ruining football for everyone, soon it'll be a joke of a sport and end up being non-contact to boot, Blatter OUT!!!!

Joe, London,

What a spoilt obnoxious brat Ronaldo is.

How many slaves get paid £120,000 a week ?

darren, warrington, England

Definition of slavery according to Wiki: 'deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to receive compensation (such as wages). I guess part of the definition could fit the situation but with a 120K a week salary Ronaldo is hardly a slave.

Charlotte, London, United Kindom

All that comments i have heard before, when Figo went to Real Madrid from Barcelona, wow, barcelonist people were furious, they loved him and then he became a traitor. Do you believe that a football player works for love to a team? Are you nuts? They are "pro", they play for money,as you work for it

Ruben, Barcelona,

I'd happily be a 'slave' for 120K a week.

Marie, London, UK

Shouldn't Ronaldo now be fined a couple of weeks wages like Gareth Barry was the speaking out of turn. Doing nothing makes Alex Ferguson look weak

Gary Collins, Birmingham,

Imagine, you are a baker, you have a contract with your company, after 3 years you want to change, You can do it because you have a contract?, Are you free for choose?

Ruben, Barcelona,

Actually Ade fron Tottenham we have a situation of a player determined to see out his contract but we fans hardly ever see him play because he is always injured. Louis Saha. Say no more!

Pat, Wakefield,

Being a non folower of football

He is certainly not loyal to United

They should refuse to pay him.

let the courts decide it.

In business he has renagaded and would be fired

Nicholas Iles, Oswestry, Shropshire

Surely Sepp Blatter is always bringing the game into disrepute with all the comments he comes out with. This man has to go! Any other high profile organisation would have got rid of him by now for the stuff he says. He should think before he speaks but I doubt never will. Give Platini his job today!

Russell, Fleet,

This is business. He agreed and signed a contract for five years. So he is with the club for that period.

Simple. If he want out, he needs to buy himself out of the contract like Jenson Button.

Put your money where your mouth is or shut up.

JC, London, UK

I am a Man United season ticket holder. I pay through the nose for my ticket which has been going up year on year since the Glazers came to power. I have this year decided not to renew because of the cost. Giving Ronaldo 150K a week will make it even worse. Great player with a pathetic ego!

Miesha, Stockport, Cheshire

Blatter is anti English. And he will do whatever it takes to see the balance that is 'European football dominance',shifted back to the Spanish or Italians or whoever else may rise to such status. That said, it shows just how much Cristiano lacks any element of class. Yes I said it!

Mian , London, UK

How did Blatter find employment?
First he describes the wages as too high, a transfer to Madrid isnt going to help that. Then he says theres too much money in the Premier League, the transfer to Spain wont help that. Hes voted in by a large number of African delegates, see if his comments help that.

Zeus Dormer, stockholm, sweden

I think this situation is turning into a very far fetched farce. To even think of comparing football to slavery is an absolute disgrace, and for this to come from the mouth of the most powerful man in the game is beyond belief. Let Ronaldo rot in the reserves, I'm sorry if £120k a weeks not enough!

Steve Phillips, Dunfermline, Scotland

i understand that Ronaldo dont have education but he got tallent. tallented as him he should take advise before pronouncing a word slavery. he should pay someone to have siome advise on slavery. As for Blatter he should resign. A head of FiFa should know what he is talking about

naagu, london,

Please, please, please somebody enslave me for £120,000 a week. I will even doff my cap for that!

Pete, St Albans, England

Educated people like Blatter should mind his language in public.

naagu, london,

Ok, lets treat him like a slave, let him play for NOTHING. Zilch. He signed that deal last year to stay with the club for 5 years. If he wants out/or is wanted, there are only two things that can happen: The other club pays United what they want or he buys out his own contract, simple! Slave my foot

Micky, Brisbane, Australia

I think C. Ronaldo is not acting like he should. Man U gave him all the support and made him grow has a player. Unfortunately he hasn't grown as a man. He is just a spoiled kid. A very skilled kid, though. As a Portuguese, it will make me sad to see him leave like this.

M. Pires, London, UK

Before labeling Ronaldo all sorts of names, answer this: "If it were the other way round, where Man Utd wants to sell to RM and Ronaldo didn't want to go while he's under contract but not playing well, will Man Utd sell without considering his opinion? I am sure the answer is Yes. End of story.

Ade, Tottenham, United Kingdom

Not many slaves earn £120k a week. Lets scrap contracts and see how footballers like normal working practice where they might get 6 months notice at best if they fail in their job. It seems they and their greedy agents are happy to sign contracts as an insurance policy but not to honour them.

jonners, weybridge,

I find it offensive that ANYONE would call someone who is living an over-priviledged existence, who is in receipt of £150,000 a week, a slave. That undermines and demeans the real suffering that some people go through. That is slavery, not someone who sulks because he can't leave Man U for Real.

Janine, Newcastle, England

Fans don't have to put up with it but they don't seem to mind paying for it. those rip off prices they grudgingly pay are where the £120,000 per week salaries come from. Football treats it's customers like cash cows and it's about time the customers showed the teams who's boss.

kirsten, Nottingham, UK

This is why football disgusts me. £120,000 a year yes, maybe even a million but £120,000 a week? WTH? Especially for this ingrate!

Luke Faichney, Robin Hood's Bay, England

Will in Derry..do me a favour. Rooney rejected a new contract at Everton after the Euros making it clear he wanted to leave.
Newcastle made the first move to sign him. United almost lost out as the deal wasnt tied up until deadline day. The Ronaldo saga is quite different

Nicholas, Thrapston,

I have only two words to say with regards to Man Utd's bid to act as the victim of a bullying big club - Wayne Rooney. They tore Rooney away from Everton using exactly the same tactics as Real Madrid are using now. I have no sympathy for them

will, derry, N. Ireland

I strongly believe that Ronaldo must be held to the contract he signed. He and Real Madrid have severely damaged their standing with much of the world of football. Holding Ronaldo to his contract is essential to avoid the trading chaos which would ensue. Let him sit on the bench for the next 4 years

Bill Channon, Francestown, United States

Blatter is an aloof fogey who is out of touch with reality; these types run the world at large! Ronaldo signed a contract with Utd which would have set him up properly for the rest of his life. Its not slavery in asking him to honour it, he is obligated to, Blatter should be advocating that instead!

Stephen Manick, Trinidad,

If Ronaldo is a slave, than Blatter must be the biggest slave master in the world. Where does Mr Blatter get his salary from?

singvillasing, Singapore,

Its Time for Ronnie to get real,either commit or move on,Man. U will carry on winning without him.

Percy, drummoyne, Sydney

The saga continues,after all it sells papers does'nt it.To the United fans who are there every week and live and die for the Reds Ronaldo was finished a month ago and we've actually moved on.Such duplicity could never be forgiven,he's actually written himself out of United history,a forgotten man.

Ed Allen, Whitby, Canada

Sepp Blatter's remarks are extremely offensive when he compares a player on £100.000+ a week with slaves who didn't get a wage and were treated very harshly. Do you think a slave owner would pay for an operation on a slave's foot?

Stephen, St. Ives, England

Codswallop - Blatter has no idea! How do these guys get these jobs really. Footballers are inextremely priveleged positions and they are duly financially rewarded for their efforts. Considering the real human trade and sex slavery that exists in this world I find Blatters comments offensive.

Dino, Melbourne, Australia

Tell me to sign to become a slave on 150,000 a week to kick a ball and i'm there

david Lion, sydney, australia

Does anyone recall The Great One's reaction when MU finally won the CL in penalties?!

He did not run off with his "team" - he sank to the floor with relief that his own failure had would no longer have the ultimate footnote - could have been different but for JT's miss.

Ronnie's ego could live on

Anwar , Bromsgrove,