Ronaldo willing to step on Ferguson's toes

CRISTIANO RONALDO has boldly declared he will not mind upsetting Alex Ferguson if it helps him to get the transfer he craves from Manchester United to Real Madrid. Ronaldo plans to release a public statement this weekend in which he will detail his plans and, in an admission that will incense Ferguson, he revealed last night that Luiz Felipe Scolari, the new Chelsea manager, had advised him to leave Old Trafford.

"It is a dream, a step forward, you can call it what you want," Ronaldo replied when asked directly what it would be like to play at the Bernabeu. "For me it is a great opportunity and, as Scolari says, that train passes by only once and we have to take advantage of it."

The comments followed on from his statement immediately after Portugal had been put out of the European Championship on Thursday night, when he said the chances of him leaving United were "great". Ronaldo still has four years of his contract to run at United though Real are believed to be ready to test the European champions' resolve to keep him with a bid approaching €95 million. Real are waiting for Ronaldo to make an unequivocal public declaration of his desire to join them, thus forcing United to the negotiating table, though they are thought to have reached the basis of an agreement with Ronaldo and his agent, Jorge Mendes.

Just over a month ago Real's president, Ramon Calderon, told his board the club had "done our bit" in their pursuit of Ronaldo. All Madrid could do now, Calderon said, was wait. Even with Portugal knocked out of the Euro 2008, the situation remains much the same as far as Madrid are concerned.

Ronaldo responded honestly when he was asked how he planned to persuade United to cooperate.

"It is always difficult. It is not only one person deciding, it is many people, but it can be a very good thing for everybody. Let's see in a couple of days. You will soon know what I want. You know what I want and that is why I don't want to say anything else. Let's wait. I want to give more details. I am going to say what I want but things don't depend only on me, that is why we have to wait."

By that Ronaldo was making it clear United would have to budge from their previously immovable position that he is not for sale. The club issued a statement yesterday insisting this would not happen but Ronaldo is bracing himself for showdown talks with Ferguson.

"I don't know what I have to say to him," he said. "I have to say what I want and what I think."

He was asked if that would upset Ferguson and replied: "It is my opinion. That is why I don't mind if people get upset. It is my decision. It is what I want."

Ronaldo revealed he had made up his mind "some time ago, before the Champions League final" but had kept relatively quiet because "we were competing".

The same, he said, applied to his refusal to answer questions on the subject while Portugal were competing in Euro 2008.

"I didn't want to say anything because I wanted to be focused on Portugal. But now it is finished I am going to talk. This is a personal thing, something I dream of."

It was put to him that his family dreamed of it, too.

"That is true," he said.

Ronaldo also confirmed he had not heard from Ferguson during Euro 2008: "I was in a very important competition and we had nothing to say to each other."

He did, however, take advice from Scolari, Portugal's outgoing manager, who might be said to have a conflict of interest now he is taking charge of one of United's major rivals.

Ronaldo is returning to Manchester to undergo minor surgery on a foot early next week. By then, his position will be clear and United could conceivably have had the first official contact from Madrid, although the Spanish champions are unlikely to get a favourable response.

"Further to press speculation about where Cristiano Ronaldo's future lies, the club has moved to reiterate its stance on the matter: United are not listening to offers," the statement from Old Trafford read. "The club reaffirm that the 23-year-old United star is not for sale."