Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo won an apology and undisclosed damages on Thursday from a newspaper which wrongly accused him of being fined for using his mobile phone during training.

The article in The Sun tabloid implied that the Portuguese winger had displayed "wholly unprofessional and arrogant behaviour", his lawyer Simon Smith told London's High Court.

The Feb. 13 story, billed as an exclusive and published under the headline "Text-Mad Ronaldo Fined 8K, Fergie's Fury On Phone Ban", was re-published around the world.

"The article...wrongly claimed the claimant had broken club rules by taking his mobile telephone onto the training pitch and sending four text messages during a single training session," Smith told the court.

"(This) caused Sir Alex Ferguson, his manager, to be furious and fine him 8,000 pounds, thereby implying wholly unprofessional and arrogant behaviour on the part of the claimant."

The Sun's publishers, Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers, agreed to apologise and pay undisclosed damages and costs, Smith added. His client will give the money to charity.

Ronaldo was not in court as he is due to play in the Euro 2008 quarter-final between Portugal and Germany on Thursday.

He is currently at the centre of frenzied transfer speculation between Manchester United and Spain's Real Madrid.

Ronaldo said in a statement: "I felt it necessary to bring this action in order to protect my reputation as a professional footballer.

"Contrary to the impression the article gave, I take training very seriously and do not want people to think I do not try my best in training."