Cristiano Ronaldo says he felt like his Manchester United career had already run its course last summer.
Ronaldo’s flirtation with Real Madrid has been ongoing for more than a year but at last looks certain to come to an end after United accepted an £80 million offer for a player who has patently expressed his desire to leave.
The Portugal winger was on the brink of leaving Old Trafford for much of last summer before being persuaded to stay by Sir Alex Ferguson.
However, it seems that, as expected, his mind was elsewhere from that moment on and the ‘dream’ move to the Spanish capital always on the agenda.
"After we won the European Cup. I thought there is no more I can achieve here," Ronaldo told the News of the World.
"And when you have done all you can, you know it is time for a new challenge. I stayed one more season and it was nice to make it three titles in a row but it was my dream to play for Madrid.
"Of course, I have not gone for the money.
"To go down as the greatest. It will take lots of work but that is my target. If you go down as the greatest at Madrid it means you are one of the greatest of all time."