The 30-year-old, who is set to join Real from English Premiership club Manchester United, underwent a medical on Friday and is expected to be presented at the Palco de Honor at the Bernabeu stadium.

Real, who had two previous bids for the Holland international turned down, refused to divulge the cost of the deal but earlier Thursday AS newspaper and radio Cadena Ser both reported that United would receive 15 million euros.

United confirmed van Nistelrooy has been allowed to travel to Spain but said negotiations over the transfer fee were still on-going.

The statement said: "We have given permission for Ruud van Nistelrooy to travel to Real Madrid for a medical. But the terms of agreement are yet to be finalised between the two clubs."

Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals for United and is the club's all-time leading European goal-scorer, had also been targeted by German champions Bayern Munich, but the chance to join one of the world's most famous clubs proved too difficult to resist.

His departure from Old Trafford seemed certain from the moment he fell out with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson after a lacklustre display in an FA Cup defeat at Liverpool in February.

The former PSV Eindhoven star, who joined United in 2001 and helped them win the Premiership in 2003, was dropped soon afterwards and his relationship with Ferguson deteriorated to such an extent that the striker walked out of Old Trafford after being told he would not be in the team to play Charlton in May.

Ferguson reacted by telling van Nistelrooy he would not be welcome at Roy Keane's testimonial later that month and the Dutchman handed in a transfer request after this summer's World Cup.

The sale means Ferguson, who has yet to sign a single player this summer, will make a renewed effort to strengthen his squad ahead of the forthcoming Premiership campaign.

He had indicated he would be happy to start the season with his current squad, which would mean Louis Saha, Alan Smith and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer competing for a place alongside Wayne Rooney in the United forward line.

But Ferguson will surely now move for a top-class foward if possible, with Juventus's Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Trezeguet possible targets as well as Tottenham's Jermain Defoe.

Van Nistelrooy's arrival at the Bernabeu could also signal the departure of Brazil striker Ronaldo, who has been linked with a swap deal for Inter Milan's Adriano.

Real manager Fabio Capello has been able to make a big impact in the transfer market since his arrival from Juventus earlier this month and had already splashed out on Juve duo Fabio Cannavaro and Emerson before capturing van Nistelrooy.