The much anticipated meeting between Manchester United chief executive David Gill and Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon failed to materialise this evening after the latter was a late withdrawal from the general assembly of the newly-formed European Club Association.

On the day Cristiano Ronaldo underwent an ankle operation, which was pronounced a success this afternoon, the pair were expected to come face-to-face after two months of disputes in the media as to where the winger's future lies.

However, Calderon was not present and was replaced by international affairs spokesman Jose Luis Lopez-Serrano.

Though Gill remained reluctant to speak on the subject, Lopez-Serrano reiterated: "Real Madrid is always interested in good players.

"I think our president has tried to get in touch with Manchester United. I can't say whether Ronaldo will soon be wearing a Real Madrid shirt but he is certainly one of the best."

Whether Calderon has attempted to contact United, or not, is unclear, but after adopting a more conciliatory tone recently he was back to his old self today, claiming: "It depends on the player, on Ronaldo. Since I've known football it has been the case that the desires of the footballer are what decide matters.

"If Ronaldo wants to leave Manchester, he'll leave. If he wants to stay, he'll stay," he said in Madrid. "I don't think you can keep anyone in a place where they don't want to be, not even in a family.

"But I insist that for a formal negotiation to start Manchester United will have to open their doors to us. Manchester have to want to talk."

Reports in Spain suggested today that United were set to test Real's resolve by offering Ronaldo for around €100million - €15m more than the £85m Real were reportedly prepared to pay.

Calderon dismissed the figures as speculation but his comments today would appear designed to push Ronaldo into formally reiterating his desire to leave United.

"He (Ronaldo) said that he would like, that it is his dream, that he would be extremely excited to come to play for Real Madrid, but it is a desire of the player that cannot be realised without Manchester's consent," Calderon told Marca.

United, meanwhile, confirmed this afternoon that the operation carried out in Amsterdam was a success but would not speculate on a recovery time.

"Cristiano Ronaldo underwent surgery today to his right ankle," a United statement read this afternoon. "The operation was performed by Professor C. Niek van Dijk at The Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam and the initial indications are that the procedure was successful.

"Cristiano will begin his convalescence under the direction of club medical staff and an estimation of his return to full fitness will be possible following review by the specialist in one month."