Ronaldo scored 42 goals for Manchester United last season

Cristiano Ronaldo has backed Fifa president Sepp Blatter's suggestion that he should be able to leave Manchester United if he wants.

Ronaldo, 23, has been heavily linked with Real Madrid and has said it would be a "dream" to join the Spanish side.

Blatter insists that players should be free to play where they choose.

And Ronaldo told Portuguese broadcaster TVI: "You know what I said, what I want and what I would like. I agree completely with the president of Fifa."

The Portugal winger, who is recovering after undergoing ankle surgery last week, added: "At the moment there is no agreement with Real Madrid. Now I have to wait and see but I do not know where I will begin the season."

Blatter irked United with his claims on Thursday comparing transfer trends to "modern slavery".

A United spokesman said: "All our players enter into their contracts after an open and free negotiation."

And the statement continued: "Most of whom do after taking advice from a Fifa-registered agent.

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"Many do so on a number of occasions and enjoy long and successful stays at Old Trafford."

Ronaldo, who scored 42 goals as United won the Premier League title and Champions League last season, has a deal which runs until 2012 and the club have repeatedly said he is not for sale.

But Blatter told Sky News: "I'm always in favour of protecting the player and if the player wants to leave let him leave.

"If the player wants to play somewhere else, then a solution should be found because if he stays in a club where he does not feel comfortable to play then it's not good for the player and for the club.

"I think in football there's too much modern slavery in transferring players or buying players here and there, and putting them somewhere.

"We are trying now to intervene in such cases. The reaction to the Bosman law is to make long-lasting contracts in order to keep the players and then if he wants to leave, then there is only one solution, he has to pay his contract."

Real president Ramon Calderon is keen to sign Ronaldo and last week he said that the player will be the one who ultimately decides where he plays next season.