Bernd Schuster knows that given the price and the emphasis placed on prising the Portuguese star away from Old Trafford, that he is likely to be the only signing of the summer.
That pressure has meant that Madrid cannot now afford to miss out on him because it would require a rapid redrawing of the plans and would sees calls for president Ramón Calderón to go.
A date of July 7 was stated by Marca, who have been accused of being the public voice box of the club by pundits, as the date when a deal could be announced, but that has now changed.
Ronaldo is in the middle of a month's holiday, that he began after Portugal's exit from Euro 2008, but he is predicted to return to Manchester next week and finalise a move to Madrid.
Schuster is confident that he will have the player in his ranks in time for the trip to Irdning for the start of pre-season training and has made accommodation plans for him.
The limited transfer movement at the Bernabéu has so far only seen Javier
Balboa go to Benfica, although,
Roberto Soldado and
Julio Baptista are expected to sold soon.
Robinho could also go even if
Ronaldo does not arrive because he is reportedly becoming upset at being tipped to made a makeweight in a deal for the United star.
While
Ronaldo remains away from the media spotlight, the saga will continue to drag on with the latest predictions turning full circle as many people believe that he could not stay at Old Trafford.