English football champions Manchester United have accepted a potential world record 205 million dollar bid from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo.
A statement says United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player.
It added the decision came at the 24-year-old winger's request after he again expressed his desire to leave.
United say the offer is unconditional and want the matter to be concluded by the end of this month, while Madrid hope to agree personal terms in the next few days.
A spokesman for United's owners, the Glazer family, insist the decision to sell Ronaldo was taken solely by manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Madrid signed Brazilian Kaka for a reported 144 million earlier this week, surpassing the previous world record fee, which Real paid for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.
Ronaldo was this year named Europeand and World Player of the Year.
