In a further twist to the summer's long-running transfer saga, sources close to Real Madrid have revealed that the club have made it clear to Cristiano Ronaldo that, after announcing his "dream" of joining them, he should now attempt to force Manchester United's hand into selling him or formally demand a transfer.
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It is alleged that Real president Roman Calderon and the Bernabeu hierarchy expect further developments this week, perhaps even by Monday, and while they are delighted that the Portuguese wasted no time in fulfilling the first part of his instructions on Thursday evening, The Sunday Telegraph understands they now expect further, steely action from their transfer target in order to help them do the deal.
However the Spanish are likely to find resistance within Ronaldo's camp, particularly given the impact of formally asking for a transfer has on a vast range of codicils within a professional player's contract, relating to bonus payments and agent payments. If he asks for a transfer many financial bonuses due to him, and his representative Jorge Mendes, would be void.
Madrid's argument is that if they are willing to pay up to £70million for him and then pay a net weekly wage of £150,000, both of which are true, then his specific obligation is to keep on making life close to unbearable for United.
Ronaldo will return to Manchester for assessment on a foot injury that he has been carrying in the last weeks of the season. If he does need minor surgical treatment, sources close to Madrid allege that Real would be unhappy with him having it in England.
The Sunday Telegraph also understands that Madrid may have leaked the story at the beginning of May. José Manuel 'Pipi' Estrada, a famous radio and newspaper journalist, reported stage by stage what was happening in the Ronaldo deal beginning on May 7 in the football newspaper Marca. "Ronaldo has taken a decision," he wrote. "He's going to tell United he wants to leave... He's given a personal guarantee to Real Madrid Director of football Pedja Mijatovic and his assistant Carlos Bucero." Crucially he warned that there would be a declaration of intent before the Euros and then a fuller statemtent when Ronaldo's tournament was over. Estrada was well briefed.
One of the unfairly branded culprits is the last person to move from Old Trafford to the Bernabeu. Valter di Salvo was publicly shunned by Carlos Quieroz for quitting and taking over as Director of Performance at Madrid 12 months ago and during the season, as Ronaldo has repeatedly phoned him as a friend, the Italian has warned the winger not to make the move unless he is "1,000 per cent" sure that he wishes to say goodbye forever to Manchester United.
