Soccer:Cristiano Ronaldo is set to leave Manchester United after the Premier League champions gave Real Madrid permission to speak to the winger and accepted a world record bid of £80million (€94m). The news comes on the same day the Spanish giants confirmed they will arrive in Ireland for pre-season training in July.
After warding off the Spanish club's interest in the Portuguese World Player of the Year this time last year, United said in a statement today talks could begin over a possible transfer to the nine-times European champions.
"Manchester United have received a world-record, unconditional offer of £80 million pounds for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid," the club said today. "At Cristiano's request - who has again expressed his desire to leave - and after discussion with the player's representatives, United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player.
"Matters are expected to be concluded by June 30th."
Should Real complete the signing of the 24-year-old it would seal a remarkable double after the Spanish giants snapped up Brazilian playmaker Kaka from Milan this week for a fee reported to be around €69million.
Kaka was the first player to be signed since Florentino Perez returned to the presidency this month and Real Madrid appear intent on continuing their summer spending spree with the purchase of Ronaldo.
United have always rejected the advances of Real for their most prized asset, even threatening to report them to Fifa last year over their pursuit of the player. However, they now seemed resigned to losing Ronaldo, who has always said it would be his dream to play for Real, albeit for a staggering sum of money.
Former Real president Ramon Calderon said this evening, however, the deal was agreed last summer.
Calderon, who stepped down at the Bernabeu midway through last season, stopped short of confirming a pre-contract agreement was in place since last summer but insisted the deal was always in the pipeline.
"Let's say that everyone involved in the operation agreed to do it this season," he said. "That is what I can say. It has happened now, it was a bit early last season."
Ronaldo joined United from Sporting Lisbon for €15m in 2003, as an 18-year-old, and in the wake of David Beckham's move to Real Madrid.
He quickly established himself as the most high-profile player in the Premier League and his goals have helped United win three consecutive Premier League titles as well as the Champions League last year when he scored in the final against Chelsea.
In the 2007-08 season he scored 42 goals which topped the previous club record for a midfielder held by George Best. Last season he managed 26 goals, taking his tally for United to 118 in 292 appearances.
If Ronaldo’s deal goes through in time he is in line to join the rest of his new Real team mates in Ireland for a 10-day pre-season training camp at Carton House in Maynooth.
The move was confirmed by Irish sports management company Platinum One after initial discussions to bring the Real squad to Ireland began last November.
“Within the past few weeks negotiations for the ten day visit of the world’s biggest football club were concluded in Madrid,” Platinum confirmed in today’s statement. Madrid had been exploring possible pre-season camps in both Scotland and Ireland.
“The preseason programme, which will involve the full senior squad under new first team coach, Manuel Pellegrini, will take place at Carton House, Maynooth in. Kildare from July 13th to 22nd.
“Real Madrid will play one match in Ireland as part of the training programme. Details of the game will be announced next week.”
CRISTIANO RONALDO FACTFILE
1985: Born February 5 in Funchal on the Portuguese island of Madeira.
2002: Makes his debut for Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese Super Liga at the age of 17 after winning international caps for Portugal's youth sides.
2003: August 6 - Scores in pre-season friendly against Manchester United.
August 8 - Completes a £12.24million transfer to United, taking the number seven shirt following the sale of then England captain David Beckham to Real Madrid.
August 16 - Makes his debut as a second-half substitute in opening-day 4-0 win over Bolton at Old Trafford.
August 20 - Plays for Portugal's full national side in 1-0 win over Kazakhstan.
November 1 - Scores his first goal for United in the 3-0 victory over Portsmouth at Old Trafford.
2004: May 22 - Dazzles in United's 3-0 FA Cup final victory over Millwall.
June 24 - Scores in the shoot-out as Portugal knock England out of the European Championships 6-5 on penalties.
July 4 - Plays in Euro 2004 final, which Portugal lose 1-0 to Greece.
2005 October 19 - Arrested and questioned by police after an allegation of rape at a London hotel is made against him. Ronaldo asserts his innocence. No charges are brought.
November 18 - Agrees two-year extension to his United contract, keeping him at the club until 2010.
2006: July 1 Protests to referee Horacio Elizondo after United team-mate Wayne Rooney clashes with Ricardo Carvalho in the World Cup quarter-final between Portugal and England. Rooney is sent off and television pictures catch Ronaldo winking towards the bench. Scores the winning penalty in the shoot-out to knock out England.
July 8 - After losing the third-place play-off to Germany, Ronaldo reveals he wants to leave United. Admits he would like a move to Spain, having been linked with Real Madrid.
July 7 - United stress there is "no possibility" Ronaldo will be sold.
2007: February 6 - Named captain of the Portugal team for a friendly against Brazil a day after his 22nd birthday.
April 13 - Agrees new five-year deal with Red Devils.
April 22 - Voted both the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year - the first player to land the double award since Andy Gray in 1977.
May - Voted Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers' Association as United win the Premier League title.
December 17 - Finishes third in FIFA World Player of the Year voting, behind winner Kaka and Lionel Messi.
2008: March 19 - Scores twice in a 2-0 win over Bolton - taking his tally for 2007-08 to 33 - to beat George Best's 40-year-old club record for goals scored by a winger in a single season.
April 27 - Voted PFA Player of the Year for the second year running.
May 5 - United claim Premier League title with win at Wigan.
May 14 - Real Madrid claim they have the funds to purchase Ronaldo.
May 21 - Heads United in front in Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow. The game goes to penalties and, despite Ronaldo missing his kick, United win the shoot-out. Ends the season with 42 goals.
May 22 - Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster says he believes Ronaldo will play for the Spanish club at some point in his career.
June 2 - Ronaldo is reported to have told Brazilian website Terra that he wants to join Madrid, if they can meet United's asking price.
June 6 - United report Madrid to FIFA over their pursuit of Ronaldo.
June 19 - Unable to prevent Portugal being dumped out of Euro 2008 as Luiz Felipe Scolari's team lose 3-2 to Germany in the quarter-finals.
July 7 - Ronaldo undergoes surgery on his injured ankle in Amsterdam.
August 8 - Tells Portuguese newspaper Publico he will remain with Manchester United "for at least another year".
August 17 - Makes his return from injury as a 62nd-minute substitute in a home goalless draw with Villarreal in the Champions League.
November 15 - Scores 100th goal for Manchester United with the first of a brace against Stoke.
November 30 - Sent off for two yellow cards in the Manchester derby, the second caution coming after a bizarre handball incident.
December 2 - Wins the prestigious Ballon d'Or, convincingly seeing off competition from second-placed Messi and Liverpool's Fernando Torres, in third.
2009: January 8 - Escapes uninjured after writing off his Ferrari sports car by crashing into a roadside barrier under a tunnel near Manchester Airport on his way to training.
January 12 - Named FIFA World Player of the Year at gala ceremony in Zurich.
May 16 - Helps United win Premier League title with 0-0 draw against Arsenal.
May 27 - Unable to prevent United losing 2-0 to Barcelona in the Champions League final in Rome.
June 11 - United accept a world-record £80million bid from Real Madrid.
