Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed to join Real Madrid this summer, claims Spanish journalist

Is it that time of year already?

No sooner had Cristiano Ronaldo mumbled his last thank yous after picking up the FIFA World Player of the Year Award last night than stories started circulating that the Manchester United ace has agreed to join long-term suitors Real Madrid in the summer.

Well-connected Spanish journalist Guillem Balague broke the latest exclusive on his website, claiming that recent reports Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes had reached an agreement with former Real president Florentino Perez to join Los Meringues in the summer of 2010 were wrong.

Instead, Balague claims, Ronaldo and Mendes have struck a verbal agreement with current Real president Ramon Calderon to join the club in 2009 instead.

Thus Ronaldo was very carefully and deliberately able to say with impunity yesterday: My agent does not have an agreement with Florentino P›rez.

Of course, Ronaldo will be going nowhere if Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson decide to dig their heels in and refuse to sell their prized asset in the summer.

But Balague argues that the players determination to move to Spain, coupled with the spending power afforded Real Madrid by Euros strength against the pound, could force the Reds hand come June.

Although frankly, given the enmity that exists between Manchester United and Real Madrid, Calderon would probably have more joy using a loaded gun.

Balgue nonetheless predicts there could be trouble ahead.

What is strange is that, if Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't want to leave Manchester United, why is his agent agreeing things with Real Madrid?

"I know Sir Alex Ferguson is going to be upset."

Either way, be prepared for a deluge of accusations, denials and will he/wont he stories between now and the summer.

Again.

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