Portuguese soccer ace, Cristiano Ronaldo today accepted a public apology at London’s High Court and undisclosed libel damages over tabloid claims that he was fined £8,000 for using a mobile phone on the pitch during a training session.

While Ronaldo may be risking the ire of Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson by refusing to dispel talks of a summer transfer to Spanish superclub Real Madrid – but he did not infuriate his manager by texting during a training session last season, London’s High Court was told.

Ronaldo, currently preparing for Portugal’s Euro 2008 quarter-final with Germany, sued the Sun over claims he had been fined £8,000 by an angry Ferguson for bringing his mobile phone onto the training pitch and sending for text messages during a session.