Ruud van Nistelrooy will become a Real Madrid player tomorrow, the Spanish club have announced. According to a statement on the club website, the striker is scheduled to have a medical in Madrid in the morning before signing a three-year deal.

The statement read: "Real Madrid announce they have an agreement with Manchester United for the transfer of the player Ruud van Nistelrooy.

"The player will be contracted with the club for the next three seasons.

"He will undergo a medical on Friday morning and will be presented in the evening at 7pm at the Palco de Honor at the Santiago Bernabeu."

The Dutch striker, who found himself out of form and out of favour last season, wants to leave Old Trafford after handing in a written transfer request and both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid were keen to sign him.

However, with United holding out for a fee of £15million, Van Nistelrooy had been forced to return for pre-season training although he played no part in the club's' 3-0 win over Celtic at Parkhead last night.

Real Madrid tested United's resolve with a second bid for the 30-year-old, which is thought to be a straight cash deal of around £10million.

Manchester United have yet to confirm either the fee or, indeed, the transfer.