The comment will certainly not go down well with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, ahead of their meeting on Sunday.
Scolari said: “Maybe next season, Cristiano is with me. Tell him if he wants to change, I’ll open the door for him.”
Scolari added: “He will leave United one day because he won’t play for 50 years.
“If he goes to another club, whether in one year or two years, I don’t know. He’s my friend. I like him as a father likes his son. But his life is his life.
“When I arrived in Portugal, Ronaldo was a kid. A young boy of 17.
“At that time, he had a good character. He was starting as a very good professional, but at that time he was already thinking about his future.
“He’s improved himself, very well, in the five or six years since. More in Manchester than with the national team.
“He lives in Manchester 11 months of the year and spends only one month a year with the national team.
“I’ve seen him improve. Next season, I can see him as a captain with Portugal. He’s a very good man, helps the other players, a good attitude on and off the pitch.
“Ronaldo, has grown up, matured. Now, at this time of life, Ronaldo is mature and is better than one or two years ago.
“Now he is one of the three best players in the world. I said that two years ago, and I repeat it now. I never said he was the best, and I won’t now.
“I have some players here who are fantastic, and I’d never say they are the best. He is one of three, one of five, one of 10.”
Ronaldo joined Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon for £12.24million in 2003.
