http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3654140,00.html

Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence over his future by reportedly declaring a desire to move to Real Madrid.

The transfer story of the summer gathers pace by the day but prior to speaking to Brazilian website Terra, little of note had been offered by the Manchester United winger.

Sir Alex Ferguson and United’s owners, the Glazer family, are united in their stance that Ronaldo will not be allowed to quit Old Trafford but their resolve to keep him will now be further tested by the player’s latest declaration.

Speaking from Portugal’s training base in the Swiss city of Neuchatel, Ronaldo admitted, according to Terra, that a move to the Spanish capital appealed.

“I want to play for Real Madrid, but only if it is true they are eager to pay me and Manchester United what they have been saying they will,” said Ronaldo.

Message received

“However, it does not depend on me. It is important to send a message.

“From now on I will not talk again about this until the end of the Euros. It is not worth asking me because I will not reply.”

http://goal.com/en/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=724470

On Wednesday, Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon said he would not risk ruining his club’s relationship with Manchester United by bidding for a player under contract.

However, now Ronaldo has signalled his intent for a future in Spain, it could be Madrid that make the next move.

Much of the English press are reporting that the Portuguese phenomenon will be earning the astronomical figure – comfortably over twice as much as the next highest earners in the sport – in a five-year contract worth a staggering £75 million.

Los Blancos are reported to have made it clear to the player’s representatives that the offer will not be on the table in a year’s time – which is when it is now rumoured Ronaldo will eventually make his ‘dream’ move.

It was stated late last week that Ronaldo would make a final decision on his future in the coming days and rumours emerged yesterday that the winger had told family and close friends of his plan to leave the club, though there were conflicting reports released hours earlier that the player would stay on for a further year at Old Trafford.

Whether Ronaldo will make his intentions public before Euro 2008 has run its course is yet another piece of this complex puzzle, while Manchester United bosses have said they would sooner let their star rot in the stands than sell him to los Merengues.

Various transfer fees have been banded about in relation to the 23-year-old, but it will without doubt take a world record-breaking amount – meaning over the £46 million paid by Madrid to Juventus for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.

While these incredible sums of money may seem even beyond the world’s most successful club, the president and numerous directors have assured the world that, with the money generated after the player’s arrival, he would produce more than enough revenue to cover his own cost.

Real Madrid have on numerous occasions done their bit to try and placate Manchester United management – who have been furious with the continued approach for their player – by saying the signing would be ‘impossible’, but only to temper such a statement with a look to the future, and the Portuguese international’s ‘inevitable’ signing for the club.