Ronaldo may place Real Madrid joining ultimatum before Ferguson next week

Portuguese and Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to bluntly tell Coach Alex Ferguson next week to let him sign up with Spanish club Real Madrid.

London, Aug.1 : Portuguese and Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to bluntly tell Coach Alex Ferguson next week to let him sign up with Spanish club Real Madrid.

According to a report in the pro-Real paper AS, Ron's agent Jorge Mendes has passed on a message to Bernabeu president Ramon Calderon that the winger will sort out his future next week.

Mendes said Ron's message was: "Stay calm, I will sort it out next week. I will go to Manchester and tell them my only desire is to play at Real Madrid and this decision is non-negotiable."

Real are pinning their hopes on the winger dragging United to the negotiating table.

Ronaldo, 23, is undergoing physiotherapy in Lisbon and will return to England to continue his recuperation from ankle surgery. Calderon has staked his reputation on the bid to snatch Ronaldo from Old Trafford.

Yet he was told by his board in a fractious meeting on Monday to give up on the player as the club were in danger of not signing anyone this summer.

The Real supremo knows there is nothing the club can do if United sticks to their guns.

Ronaldo is expected back at Carrington early next week, although he will visit Amsterdam first. Niek van Dijk, the surgeon who carried out his ankle op asked Ronnie on July 7 to return for a four-week check-up.

That means the United star is likely to stop off in Holland on his way back to Manchester from Lisbon, where he is currently working with the Portuguese FA's physio.

So it could be Monday night or even Tuesday morning when he finally comes face- to-face with Ferguson.

ANI