The Portugal winger, rather like a group of businessmen closer to home, is ready to announce his future plans 'imminently.'

And in the mean time the papers are full of innuendo and half truths about what is actually going on.

From family to close friends, everyone seems to have had their say while the player himself deliberates.

Zinedine Zidane was the latest to voice his opinion on the matter over the weekend.

He is confident the Manchester United man is bound for Spain.

And he will end up at the Bernabeu sooner rather than later, so why not now?

Zidane was previously the most expensive player ever bought by Real, costing £45.8million when he moved from Juventus in 2001 - a fee that remains the world record.

But with reports putting Ronaldo's value at anything up to £70million, that will not stand for long.

And there is the crux of the matter.

It is not a matter of whether United want to sell last season's outstanding Premier League player, but whether they can actually resist more money than us mere mortals can barely comprehend.

There has always been a question mark over the 23-year-old's ability to produce on the big stage.

It is all very well scoring a stunner at home to Derby County, you have to do it when the pressure is on.

And at Euro 2008, Ronaldo failed to hit the heights.

United say he is not for sale at any price, but the Glazer family - money men at heart - must be itching to get rid.

WHEN Chelsea announced Luiz Felipe Scolari as their new manager the footballing world nodded its approval.

But with Portugal's departure from the European Championships one has started to think that Roman Abramovich has got the wrong man.

The Chelsea owner is close to Russia boss Guus Hiddink - so close reports suggest that he pays the Dutchman's salary.

It is a noble gesture and one certain to gain favour with his fellow countrymen in Moscow and beyond.

But if he continues to pour cash into Stamford Bridge, he might have been better transferring the manager from eastern Europe to west London.

Big Phil will be a success at the Bridge - I feel I could do a half decent job with unlimited funds.

But how long has he got before Hiddink, successful at major finals with the Dutch, South Korea and Australia, is mentioned every time Chelsea fail to fulfil their owner's wishes?

YOU can hear the discussions going on at Twickenham.

"Let's organise the tour to New Zealand for the busiest weekends of Euro 2008. No one will spot our games then."

Sadly for the RFU - and the players - England's footballers failed to deliver and the spotlight has fallen on the union boys.

Welcome to the world of modern, high profile, professional sport, lads.