Also according to Radio Marca this could be facilitated by another swap deal involving the 'meringues' - whose opening 0-0 draw with Villarreal earned them a resounding booing from their fans.

It would see them securing the services of Arsenal's Spanish international winger Jose Antonio Reyes, who stunned the Premiership side by saying he is homesick and never wants to play in England again, in exchange for out of favour Brazilian attacking midfielder Julio Baptista.

It would also see Real pay three million euros on top of that for Reyes, who has in truth never really settled at the club.

According to Cadena Ser the deal for Ronaldo and Adriano - who failed to gel during the World Cup finals with the former arguably the more potent threat despite being criticised for being overweight - will be sealed on Thursday.

"Real Madrid and Inter have already agreed terms," the internet site of the radio station reported.

Madrid coach Fabio Capello is known to be a big fan of Brazilian striker Adriano.

The 2002 World Cup winner Ronaldo, whose contract runs till June 2008 and has a net annual salary of 7.5 million euros, is set to be back in action in several weeks after having undergone an operation on his left tibia following the World Cup finals last month.

Both Ronaldo and 24-year-old Baptista have said they did not want to leave Real despite both going through rough patches at the club.

Baptista scored just eight goals in 32 matches last term after his 24million euros transfer from a hugely successful stint at Sevilla where he'd scored 38 goals in two seasons while Ronaldo, 29, was known to be upset at being booed for a large part of last season as Real finished trophyless again.