Cristiano Ronaldo: I want to leave Manchester United
Published 00:00 04/06/08 By By David McDonnell
Cristiano Ronaldo is keen to quit Manchester United for Real Madrid this summer - but accepts he will have to put his dream move on hold for one more year.
Real are ready to pay United £60million for Ronaldo and offer the world's No.1 player £200,000 a week over four years to complete the most lucrative financial deal in football history.
The Portugal winger, 23, has told close friends of his desire for a fresh challenge after five years at Old Trafford, and is said to have decided now is the time for him to test himself in Spain.
But United's refusal to sell their star player appears to have scuppered Ronaldo's hopes of securing a world record-breaking move to the Spanish giants for now.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, backed by club owners the Glazers and chief executive David Gill, is adamant that 23-year-old Ronaldo will not be sold before next season - at any price.
Ronaldo's camp, led by his agent Jorge Mendes, are keen to maximise the player's huge current market and commercial value by pushing through a move to Madrid.
Although Ronaldo is indebted to Fergie for helping him develop into the best player in the world, the winger feels he has achieved all he can at United and is ready to move on.
But United's defiant stance over Ronaldo has rendered that almost impossible over the short term, and there is a move in his camp towards him spending one final season in Manchester.
Although Ronaldo has four years left on his current contract, United know there is little chance of him staying beyond the end of next season, given the player's stated desire to play in Spain.
Ronaldo is with Portugal at their Geneva training camp, ahead of their opening game of Euro 2008 against Turkey on Saturday.
He is due to face the world's media on Friday, but coach Luiz Felipe Scolari may scrap Ronaldo's appearance for fear his personal situation will dominate proceedings.
And Portugal are worried the furore over his future will now adversely affect his form during the tournament.
