Manchester United accepted a world record transfer offer for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid on Thursday, clearing the World Player of the Year to negotiate personal terms with the Spanish club. The Premier League champion received an unconditional offer of 80 million pounds ($131 million; 94 million euros) for Ronaldo, and unlike in the last offseason is willing to see its 24-year-old star performer join a major European rival. United said: “At Cristiano's request – who has again expressed his desire to leave – and after discussion with the player's representatives, United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player. “Matters are expected to be concluded by 30 June.” The Portugal winger, who joined from Sporting Lisbon in 2003, spent last June pushing for what he called at the time a “dream move” to Madrid. An unsuccessful complaint about Madrid's pursuit was made to football's world governing body FIFA and a move was blocked by United manager Alex Ferguson, who traveled to Lisbon to persuade his player to stay at Old Trafford. That didn't stop Ronaldo being linked with Madrid and Ferguson's irritation boiled over in December when he said he “wouldn't sell Madrid a virus,” describing the club as a “mob.” But now a world-record bid – even if it means losing those feints, stepovers and thunderous free kicks – appears too hard to resist for a club whose debts have spiraled to nearly $1 billion. Ronaldo, who was contracted to United until 2012, plunged his future into doubt after losing the Champions League final to Barcelona last month, saying he wasn't sure if would stay next season. This was despite having vowed to stay at United in the buildup to the match and even in a broadcast interview conducted with himself. The return of Florentino Perez as Madrid's president has changed things as the billionaire looks to spend to return the Spanish side to the glory days of its “galactico” era. Kaka was signed from AC Milan earlier this week for a reported fee of around 65 million euros ($92 million). But the offer for Ronaldo would eclipse that and the $65 million it paid to get former France striker Zinedine Zidane from Juventus in 2001. Madrid will hope Ronaldo's arrival could strengthen its position as world football's richest club based on revenue. According to accountancy firm Deloitte, Madrid earned 365.8 million euros compared to second-place United's 324.8 million euros. On the pitch, though, Ronaldo would be joining a club which just had its first trophyless season in three years, while United won a third straight Premier League title, the Club World Cup, and the League Cup. Ronaldo finished United's top scorer again, despite not matching the 42-goal haul in the 2007-8 campaign when Ferguson's side won the Champions League and the English title. However, Ronaldo was viewed by some as a divisive influence at United, openly challenging Ferguson's authority. In the last weeks of the season he angrily swiped at some TV equipment while shaking his head in clear annoyance when substituted against Manchester City. When he missed a shot against Wigan, he answered Ferguson back from the pitch while shrugging his shoulders. A potential replacement is plying his trade a few miles north of Manchester in Wigan: 23-year-old Ecuador winger Antonio Valencia, who has been linked with a move to Old Trafford by British media. UEFA boss outraged European football supremo Michel Platini expressed shock Thursday as Real Madrid's world record bid for Ronaldo followed hot on the heels of the blockbuster Kaka move. “These excessive transfers are happening almost every day,” said the Frenchman, who as president of UEFA has vowed to clean up the financial side of the game and create a level economic playing field. “These transfers are a serious challenge to the idea of fairplay and the concept of financial balance in our competitions,” said Platini, who as one of the World's top players was lured to Juventus of Italy from French side St. Etienne back in 1982.
