Manchester United and Real Madrid have been arguing about Cristiano Ronaldo in public for the past three years. It has not been been pretty, but Real appear to have finally got their man.

July 2006 - After playing at the World Cup finals in Germany, Ronaldo reveals that he wants to leave United. He is public enemy No 1 in England after he appears to wink at the Portugal bench when Wayne Rooney is sent off in the quarter final match between England and Portugal. “The club can confirm that there is no possibility of Cristiano being sold,” United say in a statement. “Cristiano signed a new contract until 2010 and the club fully expect him to honour that contract. The club will not listen to any offers for Cristiano.”

April 2007 - Ronaldo doubles his wages to £120,000 a week by signing a new five-year contract and insists that he never had any intention of leaving Old Trafford. "I'm at the right club. I'm happy with my colleagues, friends and coaches," Ronaldo said. “I've learned a lot already but I still have more to learn and want to keep going. I want to win more trophies here and hopefully I can do that this season.”

January 22, 2008 - Ronaldo's mother says she could "die happy" if her son moves to Real.

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May 16 - Ronaldo issues another come-and-get-me plea to Real: "I have said a thousand times that I have one dream - to play in Spain," he said. "Sometimes your dreams don't come true but I dream, I still dream, and I am happy at Manchester United, but the future? Nobody knows."

May 23 - Sir Alex Ferguson launches a scathing attack on Real after the Spanish club refuse to give up the chase. “You get used to Real Madrid's performance in these things,” Ferguson said. “The simple facts are that he is with us and has four years left on his contract and that's the first thing. And Calderon makes that great statement 'slavery was abolished many, many years ago'. Did he tell Franco that? Give me a break." In terms of great clubs, Barcelona have far better moral issues than Real Madrid will ever have."

May 28 - United warn Real, in an official statement, to drop their interest. “Manchester United has watched with growing irritation the comments attributed to Real Madrid over their alleged desire to sign Ronaldo. The player is on a long-term contract and is not for sale. The club will have no alternative but to report Real Madrid to Fifa if it continues to behave in this totally unacceptable fashion. These public attempts to unsettle the player are completely against the regulations.”

June 1 - The Glazer family, United’s American owners, tell Ferguson that they would let Ronaldo rot in the stands rather than sell him to Real. Ferguson said:" I've had a couple of meetings with the Glazers and their attitude is 'screw Real Madrid'. If need be they would sit a player in the stand, I am telling you. There is absolutely no doubt about that."

June 6 - United report Real to Fifa over their pursuit of Ronaldo.

June 22 - Bernd Schuster, the Real manager, says that Real will pay whatever it takes. “For a player of this level, we must pay what is necessary,” he said. “For us, what is most important is to win the Champions League and he can help us achieve that. But we understand that, when a club has a player of such quality, they don’t want to let him go.”

August 8 – After meeting Ferguson, Ronaldo tells Portuguese newspaper Publico he will remain with Manchester United "for at least another year".

December 17 - Ferguson blows his top after Real claim that they have a scret deal to sign Ronaldo at the end of the season. "Do you think I would enter into a contract with that mob?" he said. "No chance. I would not sell them a virus. That is a 'no' by the way. There is no agreement whatsoever between the clubs."

June 11, 2009 - United accept a world-record £80million bid from Real Madrid.