The player agreed a six-year contract with Real after United reluctantly decided that they could no longer hope to hold on to him.

BBC: Ronaldo welcomed by 80,000 fans

Oracle is retraining most of its salesforce in e-business technology and business practices in the hope that, now that they no longer have to haggle over contract terms, they can spend more time understanding the customer and the technology.

ECONOMIST: Web sales

However, Rangers hope to persuade Thomson to extend his contract, which ends next summer, and say they have had no offers for Bougherra, the World Cup-bound Algerian who has two years remaining on his current deal.

BBC: Striker Kris Boyd to leave Rangers in summer