Manchester Utd receive Real Madrid's £80m fee for Cristiano Ronaldo

The agreed £80 million transfer fee negotiated between Manchester United and Real Madrid for prized asset Cristiano Ronaldo has, according to the club's official website, been paid, rendering the Portuguese international's Bernabeu switch complete.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson praised the influence and contributions of Ronaldo, and said, “Cristiano has been a marvelous player for Manchester United. His six years at Old Trafford have seen him develop into the best footballer in the world.

“His contribution has been a major factor in the club's success in that time and his talent, his ability to entertain and his infectious personality has enthralled fans the world over.

“Everyone here wishes him well in his future career,” he concluded.

The club can now go about funding a summer of spending that will see them bolster the squad so that they can cope with the void left by the amount of goals supplied by Ronaldo.

United have already completed the signing of former Wigan Athletic flanker Luis Antonio Valencia, while Toulouse striker Andre-Pierre Gignac has also been touted as a potential recruit.