The Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that he will make an announcement on his future plans in the next "two to three days". Ronaldo has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid in recent weeks although United are determined to hold on to their prize asset and have even threatened to report the Spanish champions to Fifa over what they claim are attempts to unsettle him.

Speaking after Portugal's 2-0 win over Georgia, Ronaldo claimed that he was hoping to soon make an announcement to end the speculation. "I hope there will be news soon," he told the Portuguese newspaper A Bola. "In two to three days I will announce my decision."

If he does decide that his future lies away from Old Trafford, Ronaldo will have a fight on his hands to secure a transfer to the Bernabéu. United's manager Sir Alex Ferguson has said that the club's owners are so determined to keep hold of the player that they would be prepared to drop him rather than sell to Madrid. "I've had a couple of meetings with the Glazers," said Ferguson. "Their attitude is, 'To hell with them'. They'd sit a player in the stand, I'm telling you, absolutely no doubt about it, just to prove a point. Not to give in to these people. They've got balls, I can tell you. I've been delighted with them in that respect."

The Glazers took United over in an £800m deal in the summer of 2005 and their arrival caused huge ructions among fans due to the debt they placed on the club. Ferguson, however, has been delighted with the support of the Americans since their regime began and their latest proposed stance over the Ronaldo issue appears to have strengthened his opinion of his employers. "They've been good to this club, believe me," he said. "They have been brilliant owners."