Timeline....

May 21
On the day of the Champions League final, Spanish tabloid Marca trumpets Ronaldo's impending arrival at Real on its front page

May 24
Ferguson raises hackles by taunting Real over their associations with former Spanish dictator General Franco. "I read about Calderon making the great statement that slavery was abolished many, many years ago," says the United manager. "Well, did they tell Franco that? Jesus Christ! Eh, give me a break!"

May 27
United threaten to report Real Madrid to Fifa over their public courting of Ronaldo. Real "think they can ride roughshod over everyone," says Ferguson

June 5
Ronaldo declares his desire to join Real Madrid as the Spanish champions prepare a bid of £71.6m. United reiterate their determination not to sell the player

June 7
Winger plays an exuberant role in Portugal's 2-0 win over Turkey in their Euro 2008 Group A opener in Geneva

June 19
Euro 2008 campaign ends as a lacklustre Portugal are beaten 3-2 by Germany in their quarter-final in Basle

July 7
Ronaldo has surgery in Amsterdam on his right ankle, but the injury rules him out for the first month of the new season

July 10
Ronaldo expresses his agreement with Fifa president Sepp Blatter's comments that he is being treated "like a slave"

July 12
Resentment mounts. In a poll on United fan website Redcafe only 11% of supporters say he should not be sold

July 14
Ronaldo holds face-to-face talks with Ferguson but his future remains unresolved

July 16
Real Madrid's Wesley Sneijder says the Portuguese's arrival at the Bernabéu would cause dressing-room resentment owing to his inflated wages

July 22
Ferguson warns Ronaldo that leaving for Real Madrid would be "the worst possible thing" for his career

August 5
Ferguson says the Real saga is "all over", adding: "He's going to play here all season"