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While the soccer world waits to see which two nations will advance to Sunday's Euro 2008 final in Vienna, the man who many thought would be there has jetted off on vacation. Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has repeatedly said he would like to move from Manchester United to Real Madrid.

United has been equally insistent that the 23-year-old, who scored 42 goals in all competitions last season, is not for sale.

Even if he were, Real Madrid might not meet the asking price. "We would never pay $125 million for any player," Ramon Calderon, the club's president, said. Real Madrid Coach Bernd Schuster, however, has asked Calderon to "pay whatever it takes" to sign Ronaldo.

If a figure is ever agreed upon, it would almost certainly make Ronaldo the world's most expensive player, surpassing Zinedine Zidane. The retired French star said he would be happy to drop the tag.

"They are ready to pay more than for me, and this will lift the weight from my shoulders," Zidane said.

Source: Los Angeles Times