REAL Madrid president Ramon Calderon is ready to begin transfer talks with Manchester United over Cristiano Ronaldo, but is not confident about signing the winger even if Manchester United consents.
While Ronaldo has stoked up the possibility of moving to the Spanish champions, no transfer request has been submitted and United has vowed to retain the player who scored 42 goals last season.
"Theoretically there is still time as there are two m
onths before the end of August if Manchester United gets in touch with Real Madrid and makes an offer," Calderon told reporters Sunday before watching Rafael Nadal in the Wimbledon final against Roger Federer. "But we don't know if it would be feasible once a sale is proposed."
Calderon is ready to begin transfer talks if United consents, but he is prepared for Ronaldo remaining with the defending English and European champion.
"It depends on what Manchester wants. Once Manchester decides whom it wants to sell and communicates with us in a concrete manner and makes a petition, we will be able to say we have been in talks of a transfer," Calderon said. "But at this point in time that is not happening and, as a result, it is a situation likely to end as it is now, that is in nothing, and Cristiano Ronaldo will continue to play at Manchester next year.
"At this moment it is the most probable outcome."
Ronaldo is likely to miss the start of the season with his right ankle set to undergo surgery next week.
United are determined not to let Ronaldo leave with just under four years remaining on his contract.
The full article contains 278 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
