NOT only is Cristiano Ronaldo now unlikely to join Manchester United, he is in contention to face them in the Uefa Super Cup.
Sensational reports the 32-year-old superstar had decided to quit Real Madrid emerged after he was hit with a charge of defrauding the Spanish government of £13million in unpaid tax.
Allegedly unhappy with a lack of protection from the club, it was claimed he had taken an “irreversible” decision to quit the Bernabeu — and his preferred destination was a return to Old Trafford.
However, Los Blancos president Florentino Perez moved calm the situation and Ronaldo now appears happy to stay at the club.
The Ballon d’Or favourite revealed he recently became a father to twins — and was allowed to leave the Portugal camp before the Confederations Cup third-place play off against Mexico to meet his children.
And that has freed him up to face his former club in the Super Cup final in Skopje on August 8.
As Champions League and Europa League winners, Real Madrid and United will meet for the first time in a European final.
Ronaldo had been expected to miss the contest, needing time to recover from an arduous season.
However, he has been able to start his holidays five days early.
Zinedine Zidane was expecting him back for training on August 4 — which would have given him just four days to prepare for the clash in the Macedonian capital.
But he will now return on August 1, giving him a whole week to recover.
Yet, before anything else, Ronaldo still needs to confirm which colour he will be wearing in Skopje.