Ronaldo has told close friends and advisers he is unhappy at Real’s public prevaricating. He was expected to give a full explanation of why he wants to go to Madrid “within days” but is now said to be reviewing his future afresh. 

And United sources are hinting at a change in their hard-line approach to an improved contract. It is possible United could lock Ronaldo into a new image-rights deal plus a new contract that could take him close to the £200,000-a-week mark. 

A United spokesman said: “We have not changed our position – Ronaldo is not for sale.”