I need 72 hours to decide on my future

Portugal 2 Germany 3

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DECISION: Cristiano Ronaldo will say where his future lies within three days.

IT'S THERE: Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger opens the scoring in Basel.

DOWN AND OUT: A disappointed Ronaldo after Germany beat his side in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals.

CRISTIANO Ronaldo will announce where he will be playing next season within the next 72 hours.

The Manchester United winger has been courted by Real Madrid after a stunning season with the Champions League winners, and now looks set to make the move to Spain.

The news came after Portugal were knocked out of Euro 2008 by Germany in Basle last night.

And immediately after the game, the Portuguese winger hinted he could be on his way out of Old Trafford.

“In two or three days’ time I will announce my future because the tournament is over for me,” he said in Portuguese.

“I have to speak to Manchester United and we will see. I will talk to them and see what happens.”

He added: “Everyone knows what I want but in the next two or three days you’ll have something new.”

Asked about a move to Madrid, Ronaldo replied: “The possibilities to go are great, but as I have always said, it doesn’t always depend on me.

“I have many desires and in the next few days they will become clear.”

Ronaldo also revealed he was now due to have an operation to rectify a foot injury.

“I am now going to be able to have surgery – it is now three months I have played with this little foot problem,” he said.

The winger celebrated a Champions League and Premier League double last season and Madrid have made no secret he is their No.1 target as they attempt to return to the top in Europe.

He had hoped to go into the new domestic campaign as a Euro 2008 winner, but the Portuguese were second best against a German side attempting to progress beyond the quarter-finals in the tournament for the first time since winning it in 1996.

Ronaldo will now have to wait four more years to see if he can lead his country to the top in Europe, having finished runners-up four years ago.

“I am happy with what I have done,” said the 23-year-old.

“We played better than Germany, we created more chances but we weren’t prepared to be trailing 2-0 with two goals from set-pieces.”

The defeat spelled the end of Luiz Felipe Scolari’s time in charge of Portugal, with the Brazilian ready to take up the managerial reins at Chelsea next season.

Meanwhile, Germany hero Bastian Schweinsteiger has set his sights on gaining revenge over Croatia after netting in the last eight win.

The Bayern Munich star, returning to the fold after being sent off in the Group B match against Croatia, opened the scoring and then set up further goals for Miroslav Klose and Michael Ballack.

Nuno Gomes pulled one back for Portugal five minutes before half-time to make it 2-1 and substitute Helder Postiga gave Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side a glimmer of hope three minutes from the end but the Euro 2004 finalists could not force an equaliser.

Joachim Low’s team will return to Basel for Wednesday’s first semi-final against either Croatia or Turkey, who contest the second last-eight tie tonight.

And Schweinsteiger is hoping to get the chance to make amends for the 2-1 defeat to Slaven Bilic’s side in the pool phase.

“We’d like to have Croatia,” he said.

“It’s the German virtues that have served us very well. We played probably the best team at the tournament and we won – that goes to show what team spirit we have.”

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