The longest running transfer saga of the summer may be nearing an end with the News of the World reporting that Real Madrid are preparing to offer Manchester United £60 million for Cristiano Ronaldo.

The proposed transfer of the Portuguese winger has filled the newspapers for the majority of the summer. Whilst Real have long been admirers of Manchester United’s number 7, the club have so far insisted that their player is not for sale.

Ronaldo himself has remained ambiguous on the situation although the latest speculation has suggested that the player will shortly inform the club he wants to leave for Madrid.

However, according to the News of the World, Real’s coach Bernd Schuster has now admitted that Madrid are still hoping to sign Ronaldo. He said: “The club are working hard to get a solution. We knew it was going to be very complicated.”

The paper reports that Madrid will offer United £60 million for the winger, despite the club having previously declared that their player is not for sale.

Despite this, and possibly encouraged by the positive noises coming from the player himself, Real are evidently hoping they can force a deal through though, despite United not wanting to sell. As Schuster himself acknowledged: “It’s not going to be easy for Ronaldo to come to Madrid but we will have to see.”

The news is likely to frustrate United manager Alex Ferguson who has spent the summer insisting Ronaldo will be a United player next season.

Yet it appears that Real Madrid are determined to get their man, a fact Schuster found hard to deny. He confirmed: “Do I still want to sign Ronaldo? What a question. Of course I do. If you ask any coach that question then every single one of them would want Ronaldo. He is a great player. One of the best.”

The news comes despite Madrid reportedly being on the verge of signing Hamburg’s Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart. The Dutchman has largely been viewed as a replacement for Ronaldo, but it is entirely possible Madrid may end up with both players.

As for Ronaldo, he has been enjoying an extended holiday following his exploits at Euro 2008 and a subsequent surgery to correct an ankle injury. However, he is due to return to Manchester United this week where his future may finally be resolved.

Ref From Gill Clark - goal.com

Cristiano Ronaldo has sensationally told Spanish newspaper ‘AS’ that he will be joining Real Madrid, and will next week travel to Manchester to notify Sir Alex Ferguson that he is leaving the English and European Champions.

Real Madrid have been on red alert ever since the Portuguese international spoke of his ambition to join them. Madrid President Ramon Calderon has even boasted of how he would splash out €100m on the United man, only for the English club to refute all offers and shackle the player.

It now seems as if the English club has no choice but to sell, as Ronaldo has issued an ultimatum as he attempts to cut and run from Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

Ronaldo is currently in Portugal where he is recovering from injury but he admits that he will return to England next week to confront his club and tell them that he is joining Real.

“Everything is fine. Next week I will return to England and tell them [Manchester United] that my only desire is to play for Real Madrid and that I will not negotiate,” Ronaldo told AS.

According to reports in Spain, the winger will hold a meeting next Tuesday with Ferguson and the club’s owners to tell them that he has had enough.

It’s not what United fans want to hear but it seems as if the Ronaldo saga is finally coming to an end and no doubt Calderon will be dancing to the tune of Ronaldo’s words.

Ref From Salvatore Landolina - goal.com

Jose Mourinho says Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo is the kind of player ‘you know for sure you cannot get’.

Ronaldo has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer and has yet to make a definitive announcement on his future.

United have insisted the Portugal international is not for sale and manager Sir Alex Ferguson has warned Ronaldo of the perils of joining Real.

New Inter Milan coach Mourinho has intimated that signing Ronaldo, and prising him from Ferguson’s grasp, would be a near impossible task.

And the former Chelsea boss admits that he never imagined trying to put together a bid to take his compatriot to Stamford Bridge.

Ref From Skysports