Medical staff from the Portugal FA say that Cristiano Ronaldo will undergo surgery on his right ankle in the next two to three days.

However, Manchester United insist that the decision on whether the winger will have an operation is still to be made. "Procedures are in place to seek specialist advice, in order to finalise the treatment plan as soon as possible," a club statement said.

United announced yesterday that they were delaying a decision on surgery as they sought further advice on the injury that Ronaldo reported in the aftermath of Portugal's Euro 2008 exit. "Manchester United medical staff met with the medical team from the Portuguese FA and Cristiano Ronaldo in Lisbon today regarding the ongoing treatment of his injured right ankle," the statement said.

"As a result, further specialist advice is being sought and an announcement will be made on any action in due course."

Should it be decided an operation is required, it could have a major impact over Ronaldo's fitness for the start of the new season. That in turn may determine how far Real Madrid are willing to push their attempts to lure him away from Old Trafford.

Ronaldo is not due back in England for another fortnight and Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, is yet to speak to him about the large number of statements from Madrid - which went unchecked by the player - during Euro 2008. Eventually, United grew so sick of Real's advances that they reported the matter to Fifa, although the world governing body subsequently rejected it.

Ronaldo refused to comment on his future when he returned to Portugal after a break in Italy. "I can only say that I will spend the period of my recovery in my house in Sintra, but regarding my future I cannot say anything," he said in Portuguese newspaper A Bola.