Ferguson will be able to splash the cash say Glazers

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson can spend as much of Cristiano Ronaldo's world record £80 million transfer fee as he likes, according to the club's owners.

Ferguson agreed to sell Ronaldo to Real Madrid last week and some supporters feared the money would be used to service United's £650 million debt, which has been amassed by the Glazer family since the Americans bought the Premier League team in 2005.

However, a spokesman for the Glazers insisted that Ferguson will be allowed to spend whatever he wants within reason.

"The idea Manchester United are motivated by a debt burden is just not true. It is not an issue," the spokesman said.

"The fact is Cristiano Ronaldo decided, after six years, it was time to move on and the manager said okay.

"Sir Alex Ferguson is in total control of his squad. He is empowered to make whatever decisions he thinks are in the best interests of Manchester United. That continues to be the case.

"Only the paranoia of some supporters would lead you to believe the owners are not going to continue investing in the team.

"A substantial number of world-class players have been brought to the club in the past few years and that will still be the case."

Ferguson has already been linked with a host of big-money signings to help replace Ronaldo, including Wigan's Antonio Valencia and Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery.

Meanwhile, Wigan chairman Dave Whelan revealed that Manchester United have indeed tabled offers for Valencia.

"They (United) have been in touch with us and we will be starting negotiations very shortly, I would imagine," Whelan told Sky Sports News when asked about Valencia.

Valencia offer

British media said that Valencia would command a fee of around 17 million pounds.

Whelan said he was not desperate to sell Valencia.

"If I can keep that lad, I'm going to keep him. He is one brilliant player.

"But if Antonio Valencia says to me, 'Chairman, I want to go to Manchester United' and we get the right fee, the deal will be done," he said.