"Ronaldo likely staying at Manchester - Real Madrid boss"

Striker Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to stay at Manchester United next season because the English champions are not willing to let him go, Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon said on Sunday.

"Ronaldo has said that he would like to play here, it's a dream, that would be very happy to come to Real Madrid but is a desire that the player can not be conducted without the agreement of Manchester," the online edition of sports daily Marca quoted him as saying.

"Manchester is that we want. Once you decide to sell him and communicate this, we can say that we are talking about a possible transfer. But as of today that is not happening," said Calderon.

"Theoretically we still have time, there are still two months until the end of August if Manchester in contact with Real Madrid and makes an offer," he added.

The most likely outcome "from today" is that "Cristiano Ronaldo will play for Manchester United next year," Calderon said.

Calderon and Manchester United chief executive David Gill held talks in Switzerland next week during the 23-year-old Spanish sports daily AS reported on Saturday.

The private talks will take place on Monday at the headquarters of the Uefa in Nyon on the sidelines of a broader meeting of European clubs, he said.

United on Friday moved to quell talk that his prize asset was about to establish a link with the Bernabeu club, saying that the rumours were "totally absurd and totally laughable. Cristiano Ronaldo is not for sale".

Manchester United have said repeatedly that the player - whose contract runs until 2012 - is certainly not for sale.

Last month, the club informed of nine real-time European champions to try to disconcert Ronaldo, but the Fife found no Spaniards had breached regulations.

Ronaldo is scheduled to undergo an ankle operation next week and is not scheduled to join the club in his pre-season tour of South Africa, which begins on July 18.

Ronaldo going nowhere say United

Manchester United said on Friday recent reports say extreme stars Cristiano Ronaldo was about to move to Spanish giants Real Madrid were "totally absurd" and insisted the Portugal international was not for sale.

Ronaldo, a boyhood fan Royal, has been related to the transfer to the Spanish capital since the end of last season even though they scored a very impressive 42 goals in all competitions last term as United won both the Premier League and Champions League trophies.

The 23-year-old could miss the start of next season if they need surgery on an ankle injury.

In the meantime, the U.S. insisted on their prize asset would not be joining Real in the coming days. "It is totally absurd and totally laughable. Cristiano Ronaldo is not for sale," said a spokesman for the club.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has become increasingly frustrated by the Royal very public courtship of Ronaldo, whose contract at Old Trafford until 2012. And that led United to report the Bernabeu club to Fifa, but the world governing body have taken no action against Real.

Ronaldo were to leave Old Trafford is unlikely to deviate from a rate much less than 70 million pounds.

United leave for their tour of South Africa on July 18, but Ronaldo was not scheduled to be a member of staff for pre-season trip.