Real Madrid had a world record 80 million-pound ($131 million) bid for Cristiano Ronaldo accepted by Manchester United as the Spanish club’s new president stepped up his drive to lure the world’s top players.
United said on its Web site it accepted the unconditional offer for the FIFA 2008 World Player of the Year, and Real Madrid and Ronaldo can start negotiations. The move should be completed by the end of June.
The 24-year-old Ronaldo’s transfer would break the record fee that Real Madrid President Florentino Perez paid in his previous term when he signed Zinedine Zidane for 75.1 million euros ($105 million) in 2001. Two days ago, Perez completed the signing of Kaka from AC Milan for what media reports said was 68 million euros as he began his quest to rebuild a team overshadowed by archrival Barcelona last season.
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," Manchester United said.
"Matters are expected to be concluded by 30 June."
Madrid confirmed the offer for Ronaldo in a statement, saying: "The club hopes to reach an agreement with the player in the coming days."
The Portugal winger, who joined from Sporting Lisbon in 2003, spent last June pushing for what he called at the time a "dream move" to Madrid.
An unsuccessful complaint about Madrid's pursuit was made to soccer's world governing body FIFA and a move was blocked by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who travelled to Lisbon to persuade his player to stay at Old Trafford.
That didn't stop Ronaldo being linked with Madrid and Ferguson's irritation boiled over in December when he said he "wouldn't sell Madrid a virus," describing the storied club as a "mob."
But now a world-record bid -- even if it means losing those feints, stepovers and thunderous free kicks -- appears too hard to resist for a club whose debts have spiralled to nearly US$1 billion.
Ronaldo, who was under contract to United until 2012, plunged his future into doubt after losing the Champions League final to Barcelona last month, saying he wasn't sure if would stay next season. This was despite having vowed to stay at United in the buildup to the match and even in a broadcast interview conducted with himself.
The return of Florentino Perez as Madrid's president has changed things as the billionaire looks to spend to return the Spanish side to the glory days of its "galactico" era.
Kaka was signed from AC Milan earlier this week for a reported fee of around 65 million euros (C$100.6 million).
But the offer for Ronaldo would eclipse that and the US$65 million (C$71.7 million) it paid to get former France midfielder Zinedine Zidane from Juventus in 2001.
Madrid will hope Ronaldo's arrival could strengthen its position as world football's richest club based on revenue. According to accountancy firm Deloitte, Madrid earned 365.8 million euros (C$565.6 million) compared to second-place United's 324.8 million euros (C$402.2 million).
On the pitch, though, Ronaldo would be joining a club which just had its first trophy-less season in three years, while United won a third straight Premier League title, the Club World Cup, and the Carling Cup.
Ronaldo finished United's top scorer again, despite not matching the 42-goal haul in the 2007-8 campaign when Ferguson's side won the Champions League and the English title.
However, Ronaldo was viewed by some as a divisive influence at United, openly challenging Ferguson's authority.
In the last weeks of the season he angrily swiped at some TV equipment while shaking his head in clear annoyance when substituted against Manchester City. When he missed a shot against Wigan, he answered Ferguson back from the pitch while shrugging his shoulders.
Former United manager Tommy Docherty said Thursday that relations were clearly strained with Ferguson, as they had been with David Beckham before he was allowed to join Madrid in 2003.
"You can't have disharmony," said Docherty, who was manager between 1972 and 1977. "With 80 million, they should cut their hands off with Ronaldo and run and give Real Madrid the problem."
A potential replacement is plying his trade a few kilometres north of Manchester in Wigan: 23-year-old Ecuador winger Antonio Valencia, who has been linked with a move to Old Trafford by British media.
United could also spend part of the windfall on paying the 25.5 million pounds (C$46.3 million) required to turn Carlos Tevez's loan deal, which expires at the end of June, into a permanent contract.
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