Ronaldo’s 'dream' move will net his agent £10m but Sir Alex will keep them waiting

Despite the player's declaration of his desire to leave Old Trafford, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will refuse to be forced into showdown talks with his star player.

I'm off: Cristiano Ronaldo, surrounded by Swiss police officers, boards the Portugal team bus

Mendes, known as 'The Octopus' because of the number of moves he has a hand in, can expect the huge commission if he clinches Ronaldo's exit from Old Trafford.

It would be the most lucrative deal of a summer in which he has already brokered Chelsea's recruitment of Luiz Felipe Scolari as manager and which promises to bring further fees for his involvement in potential deals involving Deco and Ricardo Carvalho.

When Ronaldo returns to England this week for his foot injury to be assessed, there will be no one on hand at United with the authority to deal with the issue of his desire to go to Spain. Ferguson has told friends he will not break his holiday in the South of France, while chief executive David Gill is also away, leaving Ronaldo, Mendes and Real sweating on the deal they are so keen to strike.

United remain adamant they will not sell the double Footballer of the Year, who gave the clearest indication yet that he wishes to join Real following Portugal's elimination from Euro 2008 on Thursday. Ferguson told friends: 'There is no way I'm changing my plans for anyone.'

But Real believe it is only a matter of time before United have to talk and are preparing a formal offer of just over £70m for Ronaldo, smashing the previous record of just under £50m which they paid Juventus for Zinedine Zidane in 2001. They will also propose £40m cash plus Brazil forward Robinho, who has given his consent to be a makeweight.

Real deal: Agent Jorge Mendes

The United boss has remained silent in the face of speculation that his relationship with Ronaldo has been damaged beyond repair and intends to see out the remaining week of his holiday before entertaining any thoughts of communicating with the midfielder.

'If and when he does, he will regard it as just another piece of essential club business,' added a United source.

United and Ferguson's public stance of opposing any transfer remains, but the feeling inside Real is that the main obstacle to the deal has been removed now that Ronaldo has gone public with his wish to move to Real.

Ronaldo had said: 'It is a dream, a step forward, you can call it what you want. For me it is a great opportunity.'

Real have drawn up a shortlist of three possible homes in Madrid for Ronaldo on which he could lavish a basic salary of £150,000-perweek, plus further fortunes from his image rights.

Nani, Ronaldo's team-mate for club and country, believes his departure is inevitable saying: 'The loss of Cristiano Ronaldo will be bad news for United. In the Portugal camp, Cristiano advised us that his decision was clear and that now he will try new challenges.'

Even if a deal is not brokered soon, Ronaldo's injury makes it unlikely he will join United on their four-match African tour next month.