MANCHESTER UNITED are braced for a defining week in their fight to retain Cristiano Ronaldo, with the Portugal international to announce his career plans and Real Madrid ready to submit a world-record transfer bid should he ask to leave.
The 23-year-old pledged to end the uncertainty surrounding his preference for Old Trafford or the Bernabeu after Portugal prepared for Euro 2008 with a 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland's World Cup 2010 Group Eight opponents Georgia on Saturday.
Speaking to Portuguese journalists, Ronaldo, who has encouraged speculation on his future by giving conflicting messages to the English and Spanish media, said: "Let's see, I hope there will be news soon. In two to three days I will announce my decision."
Ronaldo, who had a quiet game and was replaced in the second half, has told press in this country of his desire to stay with the reigning European champions while leaving his future open in discussions with journalists from Spain.
Madrid remain confident the winger, scorer of 42 goals last season, will move to the Bernabeu after the European Championships, despite appeals from the club's board to the president, Ramon Calderon to cease courting the player in public, and are prepared to follow any declaration from Ronaldo with an offer of around €90 million to United.
What would then appear an orchestrated campaign between Real and Ronaldo to engineer an exit has no guarantee of success, however. United, who have threatened to report Real to Fifa over their conduct during the transfer saga, are so reluctant to deal with the Spaniards that the club's owners, the Glazer family, would consider forcing Ronaldo to sit in the stands next season rather than accept a huge profit on the Portuguese.
In a departure from recent comments manager Alex Ferguson, who has appeared mindful to placate Ronaldo at every turn, claimed yesterday: "The thing people miss the point about is that I've had a couple of meetings with the Glazers. Their attitude is 'to hell with them [Real]'. They would sit a player in the stand. There's absolutely no doubt about it. They'd do it just to prove a point and not to give in to these people. They've got balls, I can tell you. I've been delighted with them in that respect."
Ferguson has stated United will have a problem keeping Ronaldo "in two or three years' time", but can encourage him to stay with further triumphs in the Champions League.
To the irritation of supporters opposed to the level of debt the Glazers have placed on United's books, the manager also credited the Americans with the club's recent successes.
"They have been good to this club," added Ferguson. "They've been brilliant owners. All the nonsense about them taking the club over and putting it in debt; every takeover is done by debt. If I wanted to buy Marks Spencer do you think I could just go under the floorboards and pull out £3 billion? No, I'd go to the Bank of Scotland."
United officials hope to confirm an agreement with Patrice Evra over a new four-year contract shortly. The French international is believed to have accepted an offer of around €70,000 a week to extend his Old Trafford career until 2012.
Newcastle have confirmed they have agreed terms with Fenerbahce for the transfer of Emre Belozoglu. The club has also given Fenerbahce permission to speak with the midfielder to discuss personal terms.
The former Galatasaray and Inter Milan player has failed to shine in England after joining Newcastle in July 2005. The 27-year-old came to prominence after helping Turkey to third-place at the 2002 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger has informed the French media that Samir Nasri will not sign for Arsenal before Euro 2008 ends.
The Arsenal manager has declared that the Marseille playmaker could play in London next season, but he will not sign next week. The attacking midfielder was expected to be transferred to the Premier League club before the start of Euro 2008 but Wenger claims the 21-year-old will not commit to Arsenal before July.
"Nasri, he interests me," Wenger said. "I hope I will do it after the Euros. It is more complicated now because the wage differences are not as big as they used to be.
