The Mail on Sunday says such is the high regard United's hierarchy has for Queiroz, they would keep him on the shortlist to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson even if he takes the Portugal job. But until Queiroz decides, Gill is pulling out all the stops to keep him at Old Trafford, where he has been an influential part of United's success and a father figure to Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani.

United, though, insist Ronaldo's future has nothing to do with what Queiroz decides.

"Ronaldo gets on well with everybody at the club, not just the assistant manager," said the source. "What happens to Queiroz is incidental to the player's situation."