Shanghai Daily | 上海日报 -- English Window to China News

REAL Madrid said it is waiting for Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo to make the first move that would allow it to start negotiations with Manchester United over a possible transfer.

The Spanish champion has made little secret of its admiration for the player but has been warned off encouraging him to breach his contract by world soccer's governing body FIFA, following a complaint from United.

"We are waiting for Ronaldo to say something, and as soon as he says he wants to play for Real Madrid there will be conversations between the two clubs," Real's director general of the presidency Miguel Angel Arroyo told sports daily Marca yesterday.

"We would willingly reach an agreement with Manchester United if it is possible, that is to say, if they want to sell and if the price was affordable."

Ronaldo has said he will not speak about his future until after the tournament. Real is not planning to make major changes to the squad but its interest in Ronaldo and Euro 2008 are making it difficult to complete its dealings.

It has been linked with a move for Valencia's Spain striker David Villa and, if Ronaldo comes, the sale of Brazil forward Robinho, with United and Chelsea reportedly interested.

"Things are a little dependent on what happens at Euro 2008. There is a lot of speculation but that is normal," Real coach Bernd Schuster told Spanish radio station Cope. "I have already said there will be very few new faces."

United manager Alex Ferguson has insisted Ronaldo will not be sold, saying his team's American owners, the Glazer family, would prefer to banish players like Ronaldo to the stands rather than sell them.

However, it remains to be seen whether United would reject what reportedly would be an offer of a world-record 80 million euros (US$124 million) for the player who helped the team become European and Premier League champion.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo won libel damages from a British tabloid newspaper over claims he was fined by United for using a cell phone during a training session.

Attorney Simon Smith told London's High Court that The Sun's report suggested "wholly unprofessional and arrogant behavior" by the Portugal winger in using his phone four times on United's training pitches in a single day.

Ronaldo accepted undisclosed damages from News Group Newspapers, publisher of Britain's biggest selling daily, which claimed he had been ordered to pay a fine of 8,000 pounds (US$16,130) by Ferguson.