Cris:I Will Need Time To Adapt

Real Madrid will be expecting great things from Cristiano Ronaldo, but they may have to be patient...

Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that he will take time to adapt to playing for Real Madrid and to life in his new surroundings when he eventually completes his mammoth move.

The Portuguese star will be expected to begin playing at his best from the off, but he has explained that may not be possible while he acclimatises to his new club.

Having spent six seasons at Manchester United, Ronaldo has opted to move after Real Madrid's €94 million-bid was accepted by the Red Devils.

"It will be a little difficult at the start because I was at Manchester United for six years," he told reporters in Portugal.

"In England, they play a more physical style of football, faster, but that is not an excuse. I only hope that I can adapt as quickly as possible.

"My life is based on challenges. Every year at Manchester United I had that. This is a different season because everything is new and that's why it's a different challenge.

"Winning titles is the challenge. Madrid are used to winning things, the same as Manchester United. I have high hopes and I'm certain that everything will turn out well."

Man Utd accept £80m Ronaldo bid

Manchester United have accepted a potential world record £80m bid from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo.

"United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player," read a statement from the Old Trafford club.

It added the decision came at the 24-year-old winger's request after he "again expressed his desire to leave".

United said the offer was unconditional and want the matter to be concluded by 30 June, while Madrid hope to agree personal terms "in the next few days".

"Real Madrid confirm they have made an offer to Manchester United for the acquisition of the rights of the player Cristiano Ronaldo," said the Spanish club in a statement.

But the BBC's Steve Kingstone in Madrid stated that Real had yet to confirm the agreed price of £80m stated by United.

A spokesman for United's owners, the Glazer family, insisted that the decision to sell Ronaldo was taken solely by manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The spokesman told the BBC: "It was purely a football decision and had nothing to do with the financial structure of the club."......More

Cris stay

Cristiano Ronaldo finally pledged his immediate future to Manchester United - but perhaps only for one more season.

In an interview with Portuguese newspaper Publico published today, Ronaldo reveals that although he still wants to play for Real Madrid some time in the future, he will remain a United player for this campaign.

He praises manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who on Monday insisted that Ronaldo would be staying, with the player's words putting an end to the summer's longest -running transfer saga.

Ronaldo said: 'Sir Alex Ferguson heard my reasons, I heard his and we have an agreement that the best for both parties would be if I stay. Therefore, I can confirm that next season I will play in Manchester United.

'For a while, my desire was that Manchester would accept Real Madrid's bid. To say the opposite would be cheating people and my own conscience.'

The news made it a double boost for Ferguson and United, with Wayne Rooney making a faster than expected recovery from the bug he picked up during the pre-season trip to Nigeria. He may be fit for the season's opener at home to Newcastle on Sunday week.

GO or STAY ?

Cristiano Ronaldo has made his mind up about his football future, but won't be revealing whether it is with Manchester United or Real Madrid for up to three days.

The Portuguese star, speaking after their 3-2 defeat to Germany in Thursday night's Euro 2008 quarter-final, said he was close to revealing his thinking.

"In two or three days' time I will announce my future because the tournament is over for me," he told the British Press Association.

"I have to speak to Manchester United and we will see. I will talk to them and see what happens. Everyone knows what I want but in the next two or three days you'll have something new."

Ronaldo told reporters the "possibilities" of going to Real Madrid were "great," but that it did not "always depend on me."

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

He also revealed to the French newspaper L'Equipe that he was to undergo foot surgery for a minor problem.

"It is now three months I have played with this little foot problem."

United released a statement Friday reiterating that Ronaldo was not for sale.

"United are not listening to offers... the 23-year-old United star is not for sale,'" the statement said.

The winger has been the source of heated speculation about his future at Manchester United for months, with Real Madrid making clear they want to sign him at any cost.

United made a formal complaint to FIFA about Real Madrid's interest last week, but football's governing body said no regulations had been broken.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has criticized Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon and coach Bernd Schuster for what he considers heavy-handed tactics and use of the Spanish media to unsettle players.

The trigger for the protest was believed to have been Calderon's comments earlier this month about his "pride" and "honor" that Ronaldo wants to play for his club.

The 23-year-old Ronaldo scored 42 goals in helping Manchester United win both the English and European titles last season.

CR Not For Sale

Manchester United Chief executive has reassured Red Devils fans that they will not be tempted into selling Cristiano Ronaldo – even for a world record fee.

The 22-year-old is not only one of the most talented but also one of the most marketable players in world football, so it is no small wonder that rumours of an impending blockbuster transfer to the likes of Real Madrid pop up with unnerving regularity for the likes of United fans.

The English champions have always been quick to pour cold water on such reports, however, and Gill has once again insisted that United are not in the business of selling their best assets for profit.

“There’s no chance of us selling him. Absolutely no way, whatever the money.

“He signed a new contract last season to 2012 and we are not a selling club. Alex Ferguson has never let a player go when he was not happy to do so.

“Cristiano is happy here. Alex and Carlos Queiroz know his mind and what he’s about.

“Everything about him is Manchester United. He’s like George Best, Eric Cantona.

“You can’t sell players like that and we are not going to sell players like that.”

How Ronaldo fought street gangs, loneliness and heartache to become a £50 million global star

The streets of Lisbon will be empty tonight. In Porto, Braga and Setubal the story will be the same. Football fans will venture out only if their local bar boasts a decent television set.

Families will stay at home, forsaking the joys of a Sunday evening in springtime to sit indoors and watch a TV documentary.

The object of their attention will be a man who, at the tender age of 22, has become a national treasure.

For its subject, Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, the broadcast of a documentary recording his rags-to-riches story marks the start of the proudest week of his life, a week in which he will be crowned England’s Footballer of the Year and play for Manchester United against Chelsea in the first FA Cup Final at the new Wembley on Saturday.

For six months, the makers of Planeta Ronaldo followed United’s iconic No 7 to film a unique insight into his life. The result is a documentary that touches not only on the high points of Ronaldo’s career, drawing praise for him from a cast list including Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Wayne Rooney, but also on the setbacks Ronaldo has faced in his mission to become the best player in the world.

Throughout his career, "that boy Ronaldo" — as United fans call him — has overcome challenges that would have seen off lesser men.

As a tearful and frightened 12-year-old, he had to leave his home island of Madeira to travel hundreds of miles to follow his dream, fighting loneliness, prejudice and even street robbers along the way.

His talent made him a hit at Sporting Lisbon and a global superstar at United.

But there have been torrid times, failing to save his harddrinking father from an early grave and the fears for his safety following the World Cup.

And as Planeta Ronaldo shows, behind the talented feet lies an enormous heart.

Today,Ronaldo is valued at £50 million but his story began with a very unusual £15,000 deal.

Nacional Madeira owed Sporting Lisbon the money on a journeyman player called Franco and, not wishing to pay it, offered the 12-yearold Ronaldo instead.

Sporting were sceptical but after five minutes of an impromptu trial, they knew they had a bargain.

It meant a huge lifestyle change for Ronaldo, who left his family in Madeira off the north African coast for the bustling Portuguese capital Lisbon.

"It was very traumatic to leave my family," says Ronaldo in the programme. "I had never even been on an aeroplane before. When I saw my mother crying at the airport, it made me want to cry as well.

"There were a lot of tears in my first few weeks in Lisbon. Madeira is so small, I couldn’t believe the traffic and noise of a capital city. About 10 of us lived in a room inside the Sporting Lisbon stadium.

"In the beginning, nobody could understand me because of my accent and I couldn’t understand them. I used to call my family wheneverI could. I remember buying phone cards and looking at the units go down as I spoke to my parents and brothers and sisters."

Ronaldo’s trials and tribulations had a menacing side, too. He recalls one incident in particular: "A gang jumped on me and my team-mates in the street. The other players ran away but I stood up and fought — and the robbers didn’t get anything."

And all through his young life’s ordeal, Ronaldo clung to his ambitions. "No matter how bad things got," he says, "I had this burning dream."

He had to vie for attention with another young star at Sporting called Ricardo Quaresma, but Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, then the coach of Porto, says he could see his talent straight away.

Mourinho tells the programme: "I went to watch Sporting and there was this tall, elegant kid playing up front. I had never heard of him before but my eyes were drawn to him right away. I turned to my assistant and said: 'Who is this player, he must be the son of Van Basten'. Their styles were so similar. Cristiano has gone on to become a great player."

It was Sir Alex, however, who gave Ronaldo his big break in 2003, signing the unknown teenager to replace the most famous player on the planet, David Beckham.

Ferguson says: "We played Sporting in a friendly and my players came in at half-time and said: 'Please sign him'. They didn’t know I had already been with the Sporting directors the previous evening to talk about it!

"A lot of players wouldn’t want the No 7 shirt worn by Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and Beckham but I knew Cristiano would thrive on it with his confidence and ability. He caused an explosion among our fans from his very first game, when I brought him on against Bolton.

"I’ve had some great players like Bryan Robson and Roy Keane in 20 years at United but Cristiano is the best now in terms of sheer ability and imagination. He has improved so much in two years. That is not by accident, it is because he practises every day and has the desire to get better."

Ronaldo nearly quit the Premiership last year after becoming the victim of a hate campaign following his role in Rooney’s sending-off at the World Cup.

Ronaldo initially thought United did not care about him and when Ferguson visited him face-to-face in Portugal, he found the young player genuinely frightened for his safety. In the documentary, Ferguson reveals how Ronaldo was won over.

"I tried to contact Cristiano after the England game but didn’t get any reply," says Sir Alex. "I thought he wasn’t returning my calls but then found out I’d been using an old number. Cristiano hadn’t got any message from me and might have felt I hadn’t shown any interest in him.

"After the tournament David (Gill, chief executive) and myself flew to Val do Lobo on a private plane to see him.

"Cristiano had fears about the reaction back in England. I explained that we had gone through the same thing with David Beckham when they were burning effigies of him after the 1998 World Cup. I told him that English people talk more than they actually do anything. They might make a lot of noise but they wouldn’t harm him physically.

"We said he could move house to somewhere in the countryside, more private, and that helped.

"He got a lot of boos in his first away game back against Charlton. Then, he beat a man and hit the crossbar with a tremendous shot. They were suddenly silent because they were terrified of what he was doing to their team. I told Cristiano the answer was to quieten the fans with his talent. And he always had the courage to show his talent."

Yet again, Ronaldo took the brave rather than the easy option, staying in Manchester rather than taking up offers from Barcelona and Real Madrid.

"I did think about my future," he admits. "I asked my friends, family and my agent (Jorge Mendes) what I should do. They all had the same opinion,that I should stay and fight to win the fans in England over. So that’s what I did."

In Rooney, his World Cup sparring partner,he found someone to share the burden of superstardom. They have become the most talked-about combination at United since Best, Law and Charlton and if they hit it off at Wembley on Saturday, there may be little Chelsea can do to stop them.

Rooney rarely gives interviews but wanted to appear on a programme about Ronaldo. "He deserves to be voted World Footballer of the Year and I hope he is," says Rooney. "He has been booed around the country for various reasons but has shown everyone how good he is. English fans only boo good players so that’s a sign of respect really. I think the supporters are secretly happy he is in the English league.

"He has signed a new contract now, although we think part of the deal was to have a mirror in the dressing room so he can look at himself all the time!"

If Ronaldo seals his incredible season with a Wembley goal, you can expect him to glance up at ".

The death of his father, Dinis, in 2005 is the one issue that, even now, Ronaldo can only skirt around rather than address directly.

In Portugal, it is widely known that Dinis suffered a chronic liver condition due to heavy drinking and Ronaldo, who was very close to his father, invested time and money seeking the best treatment for him.

Unlike on the football pitch, it was a battle Ronaldo could not win and in September 2005,while on international duty in Russia, he received the shattering news from Portugal coach Luis Felipe Scolari that his father had died.

Scolari recalls: "I was told first what had happened and knew it was my responsibility to tell Ronaldo. As you can expect, it was a very bad moment. He was heartbroken.

"We talked and talked. I spoke quietly about the time I lost my father and as we spoke he calmed down. He decided to play the match against Russia rather than fly back to Portugal immediately. I now think Ronaldo is not just the best player in the world, but the best person, too."

Millions watching television in Portugal tonight will undoubtedly agree.

Family comes first for the boy named after a President

Cristiano Ronaldo has used his fortune and fame to help the people who mean most to him — his mother, Dolores, brother,Hugo, and sisters Elma and Catia.

As the Planeta Ronaldo documentary shows, the family are extremely close and Ronaldo has encouraged and helped them since he signed for Manchester United in 2003 and even more so since the death of his father, Dinis, in 2005.

"My mother was a cook who worked hard all her life," he said. "The first thing I did after signing for United was to call her and say she didn’t have to work ever again."

Catia said: "He is an amazing brother. He calls his family every day and about 30 of us spend Christmas with him in Manchester.

"Growing up in Madeira,we had a comfortable home, but it wasn’t big. Cristiano shared a bedroom with Hugo and the two girls shared another bedroom. Now there is plenty of room for everyone, sometimes too much room!

"Cristiano bought me a watch last Christmas but I find it difficult to buy him things because he has them already.He likes simple family presents really, so last time I got him a framed picture of my six-year-old son Rodrigo. He is a very proud uncle!"

Ronaldo is the youngest of four and while Catia, 29, is forging a career as a pop singer for herself under the stage-name Ronalda, elder sister Elma is also using her brother’s fame. She is opening a clothes shop in Madeira called CR7, after Ronaldo’s initials and shirt number at United. Hugo, meanwhile, plays lowerdivision football in Madeira.

The one topic Planeta Ronaldo does not touch upon is the subject of the star’s love life. Ronaldo has been linked with a series of women, including Hollyoaks actress Gemma Atkinson and Spanish TV anchorwoman Merche Romero but he has been reluctant to discuss his private life.

Catia also explained why Ronaldo was named.

"Ronald Reagan was always in the news at the time he was born and my Dad thought the name sounded a bit different," she said.

"It wasn’t because he had any opinion on if he was a good president — they just liked the name!"

Ferguson one of the greats for Larsson

Manchester United’s FA Cup secret weapon, Henrik Larsson, cannot believe the passion Sir Alex Ferguson still has for the game after 20 years at Old Trafford.

Larsson will be hoping United beat Chelsea to win the Cup at Wembley on Saturday after he scored in their third-round win over Aston Villa and played in every round up to the quarterfinal during a loan spell at Old Trafford.

The Swedish striker, now back at Helsingborgs after his 10-week spell in Manchester, admitted he was taken aback by the enthusiasm Ferguson showed for the game.

He said: "I didn’t work with him for long but I still regard him as one of the best three coaches I ever worked with, alongside Wim Jansen and Martin O’Neill.

"I couldn’t believe the passion he still has for the game. He has had the same job for the last 20 years, but it was fantastic to see the enthusiasm.

"The way he handled the players and spoke with the players was something that I really, really appreciated. It was something special."

Larsson makes his affection for Ferguson clear in an interview in the FA Cup Final programme.

He said: "Coming to United was a fantastic experience. Sir Alex Ferguson the man is well known throughout football. I heard a lot of things before I met him and it was all true.

"His passion about the game is incredible. He doesn’t like losing and he is a fantastic boss."

Ferguson’s loan signing of 35-year-old Larsson at the start of the year was seen as a masterstroke.

The Swede scored three goals in 10 starts and helped Ferguson bring the best out of Wayne Rooney.

United have said they will give him a medal to mark his contribution to their Premiership title-winning campaign, even though he did not play the required amount of games for an official medal.

Evra & Ferguson : CR as good as Pele and Maradona

CRISTIANO RONALDO can go on to be as big as Maradona and Pele reckons team-mate Patrice Evra after a breathtaking night at Old Trafford. Winger Ronaldo scored twice and starred again alongside the resurgent Alan Smith in Manchester United’s 7-1 humiliation of Roma.

That swept Alex Ferguson’s rampant side into the Champions League semi-finals. And left-back Evra said: “There is no question at this moment, Ronaldo is the best player in the world.

“The great thing about him is, he doesn’t just do it in training but out on the pitch when it matters. He doesn’t do it for himself, he does it for the team and the fans. He is unbelievable. Ronaldo can do the same as Maradona, Pele and George Best. He can be like them.”

There is little doubt the Portuguese star, 22, is heading for an armful of personal awards this term. But Ronaldo said: “It’s always my aim to be regarded among the best players in the league or even the world. But I’m still young and I’m still improving. These awards are not the most valuable thing for me. My focus is on helping my club to be successful.”

Boss : Cris can rival greats

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Cristiano Ronaldo could one day be rated alongside all-time greats Pele and Diego Maradona. Ferguson has tied the Portuguese winger to a new five-year deal at Manchester United and already believes he is fast emerging as the finest player in the world today.

But Ferguson reckons Ronaldo's next challenge should be to establish himself as one of the best players in history."At 22, he has the same skill factor as Maradona and Pele," hailed the Manchester United boss.

"He is one of the best signings I have ever made. The measurement of his improvement this year is astronomical. In terms of top flight football, where do you find a winger who has scored 20 goals? It is incredible."

"Without question, Cristiano is getting to the level of best player in the world. Thereafter, it is up to others to decide whether he is as good as Maradona and Pele. That is the challenge in front of him now."

Ronaldo angered many English fans at the World Cup last summer and has been jeered by opposing fans throughout this season, but Ferguson believes he thrives on the pressure. Ferguson nevertheless felt it necessary to have a chat with Ronaldo before the season started about what the campaign might hold in store for him.

"We had dinner with him in Portugal and stressed this had happened before to David Beckham," he revealed. "There is nothing wrong with booing, we get booed at most places, but he had the nerve to handle it. "He still gets a bit of it but that is only because he is a great player."

Becks : Should stay !

Former England captain David Beckham has advised Cristiano Ronaldo to stay at Manchester United for the good of his career.

The Portugal winger has been linked with both Real Madrid - Beckham's club until the end of the season when he will move to Major League Soccer with the Los Angeles Galaxy - and Barcelona in recent months.

After last summer's World Cup Ronaldo was heavily criticised for the part he played in getting United team-mate Wayne Rooney sent off during England's quarter-final defeat against Portugal.

But Beckham, who received similar treatment after his sending-off at the 1998 World Cup, believes Ronaldo should stay at Old Trafford under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson.

"He is at the right club. He is being looked after by a manager who knows how to look after someone who has been through what he has," he said.

"I may not have got through the things I did without the United manager, the players and the fans.

"I owe them everything."

MU line up Deco pair with CR

Manchester United reportedly want to pair Barcelona star Deco with Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford so are lining up a £15million summer bid. Catalan giants Barca are planning to overhaul their squad at the end of this season and according to reports, Sir Alex Ferguson is planning to sign the unsettled Portuguese playmaker.

Deco has already hinted he wants a fresh challenge after three years at the Nou Camp and it is thought that bringing him to Old Trafford would help ensure Ronaldo pens a new contract with the Red Devils. Although Ronaldo's new deal is expected to be five years, there are still disputes over the pay with the player holding out for more than £100,000 per week.

2 more years

Wing king Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed he is not interested in joining Real Madrid - and wants to extend his stay at Manchester United. The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with moves to both Real and Barcelona in recent weeks but Barca claimed on Tuesday they have made no approach, and Real's hopes of signing him now appear to have been dashed.

The Portuguese winger said: "I consider myself a United footballer who is playing well and trying to help the team. "If things keep going well, I want to stay here. I'm not a Galactico. I'm only thinking about United and I want to stay here for more than two more years. I want to leave my mark on this era, win titles and be a figure in the history of this club."

Become legend before leaving

Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed the talks on his new deal at Manchester United are moving well and that he wants to earn a legendary status at Old Trafford before leaving for Spain.

The 22-year-old, who has scored 16 goals for United this season, said his agent was making good progress towards securing more years to his existing contract, which runs out in 2010.

Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson also confirmed that the negotiations have been going on."We have been negotiating for a few weeks now and hopefully we can come to an agreement where he will stay with us for the next few years."

On his potention plans, Ronaldo told Icons.com: “One day I will end up in Spain, but I am very happy here (Old Trafford). I want to make my mark in Manchester. I want to win titles and enter the folklore of the club.

“We are negotiating and everything is in place to keep me here. I believe things are going well and I am going to remain here.”

Want to stay at MU.... but play in Spain one day

..."You can never be
certain of anything in life, In football there are
no guarantees...But I am happyand want to stay here.

Manchester United and negotiating a new deal at Old Trafford, despite continuing reports linking him with a move to Spain. "We have talked and I hope to reach an agreement as soon as possible," Ronaldo, 22, told radio station Antena1. "I would like to stay, but nothing has been decided yet."

Ronaldo, who set up United's solitary goal for Henrik Larsson in Wednesday evening's UEFA Champions League win over Lille with an electric run and cross, admitted that he admires the Spanish game - but that a move there is some way off.

"Everyone knows that I love Spain," he said. "I would like to play in Spain one day. However I am happy here at Manchester. If I don't leave now, if I leave in two, three, four, five years, I would be happy. I am at a great club."

He sounded a note of caution to the Red Devils' hierarchy however.

"You can never be certain of anything in life," he warned. "In football there are no guarantees. But as I said, I am happy and I want to stay here."

United assistant boss Carlos Quieroz praised Ronaldo added that he is hopeful that the star will sign on for years to come - and said he is not worried by the overtures coming out of Madrid and Barcelona.

"He is more mature and makes better decisions now, he is faster and efficient," he said. "We are waiting to see if he will continue to give this to us in the future. All great players are sought after by the big clubs and therefore for them to desire Cristiano Ronaldo is exactly the same as us wanting to sign other players."

Be like Giggs

... he's still only 22...
If he wants,he could move in three or four years....

Cristiano Ronaldo has been told to use Ryan Giggs as inspiration and keep on playing at Old Trafford for years to come.

Since joining the Reds in 2003, the 22-year-old Portuguese winger has gone from being relatively unknown, though full of potential, to being considered the best player in the world by Sir Alex Ferguson.

There has been speculation of his future in recent weeks, but one of his friends, former Reds midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba, says Ronaldo is enjoying his football.

"I speak to Ronaldo on the phone all the time and we meet up for a coffee and go out a lot in Manchester,” said the former Nantes midfielder, now on loan from Aston Villa with Championship side Burnley.

“I've been telling him to stay in England, not to go to Spain. I think he understands that, I know he does. He tells me he is not leaving. The manager at United likes him, the players like him and the fans like him. So why go?”

During Djemba-Djemba’s time at United following a £3.5million move to Old Trafford, the Cameroonian looked up to Giggs.Just three matches off 700 appearances for United, the Welshman is an inspirational figure at the club.

“He should use Ryan Giggs as an example,” says Eric. “When United played against Villa this season I went into their dressing room and said to Giggs: 'You're 33 and you're still as quick as ever. How do you do it? You're amazing'."

"Cristiano is settled and everything is going well for him now, but who knows what might happen if he changed clubs and went abroad?"He is one of the leading scorers in the Premiership, which is fantastic for a wide player.

"But I think he can wait to move to a club like Barcelona or Real Madrid, he is still only 22. If he wants, he could move in three or four years and still have some good seasons there.”

And Djemba-Djemba feels there is every reason to stick around, with success just around the corner for the Reds. “I think United will win the Premiership this year,” he says, before adding: “I hope they do.”

Crazy offer

Barcelona will make Cristiano Ronaldo the world’s highest-paid player if he joins them in the summer, thanks to an influx of Arab oil money. According to The News of the World, the European champions will launch a £30 million bid for the Manchester United and Portugal winger and offer him wages of £160,000 a week.

The money will come from Sheik Al-Balawi, the owner of Saudi club Al-Ittihad, who has forged strong links with Barcelona president Joan Laporta through a series of football academies in the middle east. Al-Balawi told the paper: "I will do whatever it takes to help Barcelona sign a great player, like Cristiano."

It expected that Ronaldo's agent will demand that Manchester United match Barcelona's offer if they want to keep hold of the 22-year-old player beyond July, despite him being contracted to the club for another four and a half years.

His current employers offered to double his wages to £100,000 a week two months ago to stave off interest from Barcelona and their bitter rivals Real Madrid. But nothing has yet been agreed, and Ronaldo added his own voice to the debate over whether he will stay or go recently.

Ronaldo said: "I like Spanish football and it interests me, but if anyone wants to speak to me from Spain, they go through my agent, not me."

Boss: Ronaldo is happy here

...The boy is happy here he’s got at Manchester United
...76,000 fans every week...
he knows he’s at a good club...

Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson is unflustered by speculation linking Cristiano Ronaldo with a move away from Old Trafford and insists “the boy’s happy here”.

Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes was seen at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night with Barcelona sporting director Txiki Begiristain, prompting suggestions that the Catalan club will attempt to lure the 22-year-old to Camp Nou in the summer.

Barcelona have since rationalised the meeting, explaining Mendes represents several of their players, including Ronaldo's fellow Portuguese international team-mate Deco.

“The boy is happy here, everything is fine and there are absolutely no issues,” Sir Alex told reporters. “In modern-day football you have to accept that speculation is always rife. It’s the way of the world, you’re always going to get it.”

Sir Alex is firmly of the opinion that there is not a better player in the world than Ronaldo. His individual displays this season have been central to United’s aims to reclaim the Premiership trophy and in reaching the last 16 of the Champions League and FA Cup.

There has always been the suggestion that the boy from Madeira, a Portuguese island in the north Atlantic, would eventually favour a return to sunnier climes. But Sir Alex, who openly addressed the issue, believes there are plenty of reasons why Ronaldo enjoys being at United and will want to stay.

“It’s always an attraction, the better climate,” he said. “It’s always going to be that way. But, when you think about what he’s got at Manchester United – 76,000 fans every week. You don’t get that anywhere else. The big Spanish teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid, and Italian teams like Milan, when they have got big games they fill their stadiums. But they don’t fill them every week. Old Trafford is full all the time, which is fantastic.

“He’s at a good club and he knows he’s at a good club. He’s happy here.”

"I don't want to leave"

"I'm happy here and want to continue. I don't want to leave here (Old Trafford). I've been here for a while and every year I try to get better and better....."Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed he has told his agent Jorge Mendes that he is keen to stay at Manchester United. But at the same time, he thinks he is attracted to football in Spain.

22-year-old Ronaldo, who is being persistently linked with Barcelona, said: “I've got a contract with United (until 2010). If they speak to anyone it's my agent, not me. I told my agent I'm happy here and want to continue.”

But Ronaldo also admitted that the kind of football played in Spain, is attracting him. It's a kind of football in Spain that attracts me, but at the moment, I don't want to leave here (Old Trafford). I've been here for a while and every year I try to get better and better,” he felt.

“I've had to adapt to the culture, the football, the life and I think I've adapted well. It's more or less what I expected to happen. I'm enjoying my career here. We've got a good lead in the Premiership and the chances of winning the league this year are great.

“Chelsea are a great team, but we're on the right path. We're playing good football, we've been the consistent team and if things continue that way we can win the championship. My dream of winning the league is very much alive,” he declared.

I don't know where I'll be in six months

"I don't know where I will be in the space of the next six months."For the moment, I'm only thinking about training well every day."Cristiano Ronaldo has refused to pledge his future to Manchester United beyond the end of this season. Ronaldo, a £40million target for Real Madrid and Barcelona, said: "I don't know where I will be in the space of the next six months."For the moment, I'm only thinking about training well every day."

Barca's director of football Txiki Begiristain watched Ronaldo play for Portugal against Brazil in a friendly at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium last night.

United are prepared to double his £50,000-a- week salary in a new deal that would keep him at the club until 2012.Ronaldo added: "The only thing I am sure about is I want to continue at the level I've reached and aim to improve even more."

Scolari : Cris should join Barcelona

"Cristiano needs to move somewhere where the team is an integral part of the club."
Luiz Felipe Scolari

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has urged Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo to join Barcelona. The 22-year-old Portuguese star's form has attracted rave reviews this season, leading to rumours about a summer move. Scolari, quoted in The Sun, said: "The basic education stage of his career is ending and I know Cristiano is ready for a change of atmosphere.

"Barcelona would hugely enjoy having Cristiano in their team because he would complement Ronaldinho perfectly." Ronaldo scored his 15th goal of the season in United's 4-0 win at Tottenham on Sunday.

Reports have linked him with £40m move to Spain, with Real Madrid said to be interested. But Scolari feels Barcelona would be an ideal destination for the star winger if he wants to improve.

He added: "For Cristiano, the Barcelona climate would be important - most days are sunny and it's hardly ever cold like England. That gives a player all the motivation he needs to train and play." But he said a move to Real would not suit the former Sporting Lisbon star, who joined United for over £12m in 2003.

Scolari added: "Cristiano needs to move somewhere where the team is an integral part of the club - not somewhere where the system is based on individual 'heroes' or 'stars'.Moving to a club where there are four or five 'stars' who do their own thing is unworkable." Last week, United chief executive David Gill said the club would immediately turn down a bid of £35m for Ronaldo as he is not for sale.

Dubai meeting

CRISTIANO Ronaldo met Real Madrid officials during his mid-season break in Dubai.Sir Alex Ferguson gave his blessing to the trip after deciding to rest Ronaldo last weekend. But United were shocked to discover - after a Sunday Mirror Sport investigation - that Madrid officials had been staying at the same hotel.

Quizzed by United yesterday, Ronaldo insisted it was a chance meeting and that he had bumped into the Real delegation as he was leaving the hotel.

But in Spain, sources close to Real Madrid claim that club officials outlined their future plans to Ronaldo and his agent, who was with him. Real's delegation were in Dubai visiting a football academy in the area.

There is no suggestion that Ronaldo, who is 22 tomorrow, and Madrid were involved in illegal talks. But the Old Trafford hierarchy are becoming tired by the continued specualation linking their young star with a summer move to the Bernabeu. In Spain Ronaldo is openly named as Real's prime transfer target for the summer.

Ronaldo has a desire to play in Spain one day and both Real and Barcelona have made it clear they would be interested in signing him. Ferguson has insisted Ronaldo, who still has more than three years to run on his current contract, is not for sale. Old Traf ford chief executive David Gill has said United would not even sell the Madeira-born ace for a world record £45m.

Barcelona & Real Madrid in hunt for Cris

Real Madrid and Barcelona are both reportedly chasing Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo with a view to signing him from Manchester United in the summer. Ronaldo has still to sign a new contract with United, bolstering the rumours that he may be making a move to Spain.

The Spanish giants are now competing to secure the services of the talented attacking midfielder, but Manchester United are still hoping to convince Ronaldo to sign a long-term deal to keep him at Old Trafford for years to come. Sergio Alves, assistant to Ronaldo's representative Jorge Mendes has revealed that United had tabled an offer but no decision has yet been made by Ronaldo.

"United have presented an offer but we are still studying the details," said Alves, speaking to Onda Cero. Today, Manchester United do not want to speak about any sale. The position of the English club is very clear - but we do not know what can happen later. Many things change in football and the end of the season will be the key."