Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Manchester United has taken a new twist after the winger was reported as saying he would like to play for Real Madrid.
Real have been tracking Ronaldo, 23, despite being warned off by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
"I'd like to play for Real Madrid but only if it's true they are ready to pay what Manchester United ask of them," he told respected Brazilian website Terra.
"However, it does not depend on me," said the Portuguese midfielder.
"I'll only talk about this again after the European Championship," added Ronaldo. "Don't ask me any questions because I won't answer."
BBC Radio 5 Live's Mike Sewell who was with the Portugal squad in Switzerland on Thursday said he had spoken to another Portuguese journalist who had verified the translation of the website interview.
Journalist Julio Gomez, who spoke to Ronaldo, said nothing was cut and dry yet.
"This statement actually puts the pressure on Real," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"The Spanish club would have to come up with the fee that United ask for Ronaldo, if the Premier League side decide to sell him.
"So if Ronaldo doesn't play for Real next season then it might be deemed as Real's fault for not matching the asking price.
"He's not saying he won't play for United, he's saying that he wants to play for Real but these conditions have to be fulfilled and the outcome doesn't depend on him."
I'm sure when he was young his dream was to play for Real Madrid at one stage in his career
Former Tottenham winger David Ginola
Earlier this week Madrid president Ramon Calderon told Spanish newspaper Marca that the signing of Ronaldo "seems impossible" but, following Ronaldo's comments to Terra on Thursday, he has spoken again on the matter.
"For Madrid it is an honour to know that a player like him thinks that playing at Real would be good," he told Spanish newspaper AS.
"We are proud to know that he would like to be with us."
Further complicating the situation, Ronaldo's mother Dolores Aveiro was quoted on Friday saying her son would be staying with Manchester United.
"He is fine where he is," she told Portuguese television station TVI.
"The future only God knows, but what is sure is that he is going to continue in England."
Last season Ronaldo scored 42 goals as United won the Champions League and the Premier League.
Former France international and Tottenham winger David Ginola told BBC Radio 5 Live he believes the best option for the winger is to stay at United.
"I'm sure when he was young his dream was to play for Real Madrid at one stage in his career," said Ginola.
"It would be no surprise to me if he went, but if it was me I would wait another two or three years because playing in the best league in world, playing probably for best club in world, there's nothing better than that.
"He still has a few things to achieve in this country and I'm sure he can win more trophies. He is so loved in England that people would be disappointed to see a player like that leave."
Previously, Ferguson has maintained the Portuguese winger would not move, saying: "I'm confident about that. I'm very confident.
"It's a game Real play all the time, In the past they've done it with [David] Beckham, they've done it with Ronaldo, they've done it with my fitness coach last summer when they took him away from us, so we're used to it.
"It's a compliment to the standard of players we have, and we always seem to produce, but I am more than confident Cristiano will be with us next year."
"The Glazer family will not be messed about in this situation.
"We want Cristiano to stay for a long, long time. He is on a fantastic contract and quite rightly so - he's the best player in the world."
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