Ronaldo will be Real's new Galactico: Spanish newspaper

Cristiano Ronaldo, who is in talks to extend his contract at Manchester United, will quit Old Trafford for Real Madrid at the end of the season, Spanish sports daily Marca predicted on Thursday.

"Cristiano Ronaldo will sign for Real Madrid once the season is over," the paper claimed on its front page, a report that will hardly be welcomed by Sir Alex Ferguson.

"That's the bombshell that the president (of Real Madrid, Ramon Calderon) is going to announce this summer. A galactic transfer, if he's one," the paper continued.

This latest bout of speculation over the Portuguese international comes on the back of last week's assertion from Ferguson that his prize winger was going nowhere.

"Cristiano is at the right club. He wants to stay. Why would he want to go anywhere else?" the Scot said, adding that negotiations were up and running for Ronaldo to sign an extension to his existing contract which finishes in 2010.

The player himself spoke about his future intentions to Portuguese radio also last week, saying: "Everyone knows I really like Spain, that I would like to play in Spain one day but I am happy here at Manchester."

"If I don't leave now, if I leave in two, three, four, five years, I would be happy, I am at a great club."

He joined Manchester United from Lisbon-based Sporting for 12 million pounds (17.6 million euros or 23.2 million US dollars) in August 2003 on a five-year contract which he extended for another two years in November 2005.