Cristiano Ronaldo last night cast a shadow over Manchester United's Champions League final preparations by flirting with Real Madrid and declaring that he will make a decision on his future after the showdown with Chelsea next Wednesday.

In an interview with a Madrid-based television station, Ronaldo, who picked up the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award in London last night, made clear that he still harbours ambitions to play in Spain and, more alarmingly for United, suggested that he would resolve where to ply his trade after the match in Moscow.

United maintain that there is no decision for Ronaldo to make, given that he has four years remaining on a five-year contract worth £120,000 a week. David Gill, the chief executive, announced recently that Ronaldo is not for sale at any price and that it would make “no sense” to sell him, even for a world-record fee in excess of £50million. But Old Trafford officials were dismayed to learn of the 23-year-old's comments yesterday at a media open day that was held to preview the Champions League final.

In interviews with United's official media outlets, Ronaldo has contin-

ually stated his long-term commitment to the Barclays Premier League champions, but his comments to the Spanish media have been markedly different in tone.

While he said on several occasions yesterday that he was “happy” at Old Trafford, the overriding message was that he may be even happier in Spain - music to the ears of his persistent suitors in Madrid. Questioned about his future by Spanish television journalists, Ronaldo said: “I am happy here, but let's see what happens after the Champions League final. I am feeling calm here. I'm happy here, but in the future I don't know.”

Asked whether he specifically meant moving to Spain, the Portuguese replied: “I have said millions of times that I would love to play in Spain, but it's one thing to dream and another thing for it to be reality. I don't know the club [Real], but I know that they like my game. I know that other teams in Spain like me as well. It's good to know that they like my game, but I am happy here.”

The view in Madrid for much of this season - even from Ramón Calderón, their ebullient and highly ambitious president - has been that “Project Ronaldo” was on hold until at least 2009, but they appear to have been given some encouragement in recent weeks, perhaps by the player's agent, Jorge Mendes, or those close to him. It cannot have gone unnoticed in Madrid that recent gossip columns have linked Ronaldo heavily with Nereida Gallardo, a model based in Spain.

United have been mystified by the number of reports in recent months suggesting that Ronaldo is in talks over a new contract that would increase his wages to £150,000 a week. They have been so irked by them that last month they took the unusual step of issuing a statement to say that, having agreed that contract barely 12 months earlier, no such negotiations were taking place or even planned.

One source close to Ronaldo, though, maintains that the forward will pursue another new contract at the end of the season and that his future will be dictated by United's willingness or otherwise to accommodate his increased demands.

One player who has seemingly committed the remainder of his career to United is Rio Ferdinand, who signed a new five-year contract yesterday, having agreed terms on a deal, worth in excess of £100,000 a week, four weeks ago. Earlier in his career, the England defender had spoken of a desire to play in Italy and Spain, but his new contract in theory binds him to United until June 2013, by which time he will be almost 35, and strengthens his claim to be the club's next captain.

“Manchester United is a fantastic club and I am delighted I have signed a new contract,” Ferdinand, 29, said in a statement. “It is a great honour to be part of this trophy-winning team and to share in the success which I am sure will continue for many seasons to come.”