Manchester United have finally caved in to Real Madrid's repeated attempts to lure Cristiano Ronaldo away from Old Trafford.
United confirmed Thursday morning they had accepted an £80million bid for the world player of the year, with a world-record deal expected to go through by June 30.
The news had been expected when Madrid stated talks were under way, and now it is only a matter of finalizing the player's personal terms before he completes a dream move to the Bernabeu.
Madrid president Florentino Perez had already vowed to do "everything possible" to sign the 24-year-old and, unlike 12 months ago, Sir Alex Ferguson did not even attempt to talk Ronaldo out of it, knowing the former Sporting Lisbon player had his heart set on a move.
A United statement read: "At the request of Cristiano Ronaldo -- who has again expressed his desire to leave -- and after discussion with the player's representatives, United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player.
"Matters are expected to be concluded by 30 June. The club will not comment until further notice."
The news is bound to be greeted with some skepticism by United fans, who have repeatedly been told no deal had been agreed for the sale of FIFA's World Player of the Year in the face of regular statements from Spain that the Portuguese international was bound for the Bernabeu.
As it now seems a matter of when, rather than if, a world-record transfer will be completed, Ferguson might wish to explain why he has gone back on his famous comment in December last year that he would not "sell that mob a virus".
It is the first time for many years United will have allowed a player to leave they were not happy about losing. Yet some supporters may be pleased that at least another drawn-out transfer saga, such as the one 12 months ago, is not played out in public.
And at least the money could be reinvested in a squad that almost, but not quite, proved good enough to win back-to-back Champions League trophies, in addition to a hat-trick of Premier League titles.
With Edwin van der Sar, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville all reaching the end of their careers, it promises to be a far more testing summer than Ferguson might have realized.
And, for all the petulance and pouting for which Ronaldo is so famed, filling the void created by the loss of his immense talent may prove difficult.
Madrid confirmed the news in a brief statement on their website, www.realmadrid.com, adding that they hoped to finalise matters as soon as possible: "Real Madrid confirm they have made an offer to Manchester United for the acquisition of the rights of the player Cristiano Ronaldo. The club hope to reach an agreement with the player in the next few days."
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