Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken of Real Madrid’s “flattering” world-record bid for him for the first time since Manchester United accepted an £80 million offer on Thursday.
The Portuguese star was the subject of Real’s staggering approach after being strongly linked with the Spanish side since last summer.

Real failed to persuade United into selling them their prized asset this time last year, but have finally succeeded in their pursuit of the player.

It is now down to Ronaldo and Real to agree the 24-year-old’s personal terms and with the player on holiday in the US, Real are expected to fly a medical team out to examine him immediately.

“It’s flattering when two of the top teams in the world want you to play for them,” Ronaldo told Fox Sports. "The deal is historic. €93m is quite a sum of money.

“I learned about the deal here in L.A. and have heard from my people that Manchester United has accepted.

“However I have also been told that Madrid want to have a medical team look at me as expected.”

Ronaldo insisted that a hernia would not cause any problems in his proposed move, as he does not require an operation.

“I do not require surgery,” he said. “The hernia is nothing to worry about.

“I am on vacation and will remain in L.A. for a bit more”.
Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo says he expects his record £80m move from Manchester United to Real Madrid to go through, despite a minor hernia injury.

The 24-year-old winger told Fox Sports in the US: "I do not require surgery. The hernia is nothing to worry about.

"I learned about the deal here in LA and have heard from my people that Manchester United have accepted.

"However, I have also been told that Madrid want to have a medical team look at me as expected."

Fox Sports reported that Real Madrid were sending doctors to Los Angeles, where Ronaldo is on holiday, to assess his injury.

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The winger, who has yet to agree personal terms with the club, added: "It's flattering when two of the top teams in the world want you to play for them.

"The deal is historic - £80m is quite a sum of money."

On Thursday, United announced they had accepted Real's potential world record bid for their 2008 Fifa Player of the Year.

"United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player," said the Old Trafford club in a statement.

It added the decision came at Ronaldo's request after he "again expressed his desire to leave".

United said the offer was unconditional and want the matter to be concluded by 30 June, while Madrid hope to agree personal terms "in the next few days".

"Real Madrid confirm they have made an offer to Manchester United for the acquisition of the rights of the player Cristiano Ronaldo," said the Spanish club in a statement.

CRISTIANO RONALDO FACTFILE
1985: Born 5 February
2002: Makes Sporting Lisbon debut
2003: Signs for Man Utd in £12m deal
2004: Wins first trophy, the FA Cup, with United
2006: Expresses desire to join Real Madrid
2007: Wins first Premier League title
2008: Wins Champions League
2009: Voted World and European player of the year
2009: Man Utd accept £80m bid from Real

A spokesman for United's owners, the Glazer family, insisted that the decision to sell Ronaldo was taken solely by manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The spokesman told the BBC: "It was purely a football decision and had nothing to do with the financial structure of the club."

It is understood that the transfer fee would be made available for Ferguson to invest in the transfer market.

United have been linked with the likes of Lyon forward Karim Benzema, Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery and Wigan's Antonio Valencia.

Madrid signed Brazilian Kaka for a reported £56m earlier this week, surpassing the previous world record fee in pounds sterling of £45.6m, which they paid for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.

That deal was sealed by the ambition of returning Real president Florentino Perez, who previously led the Spanish club from 2000 to 2006 - during the famous galacticos era.

He recently appointed Villarreal boss Manuel Pellegrini as Real's new coach, and had previously made it clear he would do "everything possible" to sign Ronaldo.

He joined Man Utd from Sporting Lisbon as an 18-year-old in 2003 and took a while to find his form.

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But he became a pivotal player as United won three straight Premier League titles starting in 2006-07 and the 2008 Champions League.

In 2007-08, he scored 42 goals, which topped the previous club record for a midfielder held by George Best, and was on the scoresheet as United defeated Chelsea in the Champions League final.

His form through 2008 saw him named Fifa World Player of the Year in January, and just a month after he won the Ballon d'Or as the European Player of the Year.

Ronaldo was the top scorer for his club last season, with 26 goals, taking his total for United to 118 in 292 appearances.