LONDON (AFP) - Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted he does want to play for Real Madrid, according to a Brazilian website.

Although United have repeatedly insisted they will not sell their prize asset, with Sir Alex Ferguson even claiming they would let him rot in the reserves, Ronaldo's comments re-open the possibilty he could leave Old Trafford.

Ronaldo was speaking in what the Terra website claims was an exclusive interview with the Portugal international.

"I would like to play for Real Madrid but only if it is true they are ready to pay what Manchester United ask of them. However, it does not depend on me," he said.

Real are believed to have offered Ronaldo 300,000 pounds a week (586,000 dollars) after tax to move to the Bernabeu and would pay United a world record transfer fee to complete the deal.

But Ronaldo added that he would not talk about his future for the duration of Euro 2008 because he does not want to be distracted.

"From today I'm not going to talk about this topic with anyone at all," he told Terra. "I'll only talk about this again after the European Championship. Don't ask me any questions because I won't answer."

The Spanish champions had seemed to concede defeat in the Ronaldo race after United threatened to report them to FIFA.

So Ferguson will be stunned to hear Ronaldo, who scored 42 goals in all competitions this season, has edged closer to the exit door after nuturing his progress from a precocious teenager into arguably the best player in the world.

United are sure to put up a fierce fight to keep the PFA Footballer of the Year, but Real can be expected to step up their attempts to seal what is certain to be the blockbuster transfer saga of the close-season.