Manchester United's battle to keep Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Queiroz is set to end in partial success - with their star player staying but assistant manager departing.

While Real Madrid have all but conceded defeat in their bid to bully United into selling Ronaldo, the winger's national team are close to securing Queiroz as their new coach.

The club are resigned to Queiroz's departure after he told them he wants to leave on Saturday.

Leading players: Fergie may win his Ronaldo war but lose Queiroz (right)

Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to consider former players Laurent Blanc, the Bordeaux manager, and Mike Phelan and Brian McClair, both already on the United coaching staff, as replacements.

But losing both Portuguese would have been extremely damaging and United can take comfort their strong stance on Ronaldo is forcing Real to retreat.

Madrid president Ramon Calderon, interviewed at Wimbledon yesterday, said: 'Right now the most probable thing is that Ronaldo will be at Manchester United next year.

'United have to want it in order for a transfer to happen. Once they decide they want to sell and speak directly with us, things can happen.

'Ronaldo says he wants to play here and that it's a dream for him. But that is a wish that can't be realised without the agreement of his club.'

Although Calderon will face David Gill at today's European Club Association general assembly in Switzerland, the United chief executive will not entertain discussions on Ronaldo.

The winger has been in Capri for the last few days undergoing ankle treatment with specialist Francesco Canonico in a bid to avoid surgery that would see the 23- year-old miss the start of the season.

He was back in Lisbon last night, but is expected in Manchester this week and will discuss his injury and his future with United manager Ferguson.

That stage has already passed for Queiroz, who met the Scot and Gill on Saturday and rejected their £1.5 million-a-year offer to stay.

Queiroz told them he wants to accept the offer of a four-year deal on lesser terms with the Portuguese Federation and has since flown to Lisbon to meet Portugal Federation president Gilberto Madail today.

Although compensation is yet to be agreed with United, the coach has said privately that he expects to leave United in the next few days, when a deal between the parties is struck.