Ronaldo remains coy on United future but denies money is a factor

Cristiano Ronaldo says he is still to make a firm decision on his future at Manchester United, despite last week's meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson which led to the Manchester United manager saying the winger would not be leaving Old Trafford for Real Madrid.

The Portuguese winger, currently on holiday in California and out of action until October after undergoing knee surgery this month, added that any decision made would not be based on money. “I’ve had hundreds of questions about Manchester United and Real Madrid,” he told ESPN. “What do you want me to say? That I’m going or I’m staying? I don’t know about the future, only God knows it. I can’t say any more. Great players are always hounded by great clubs. It’s a normal situation. I have always been hounded, not only this year.”

Real Madrid are reportedly willing to offer Ronaldo a contract worth up to £10m per season, while United’s chief executive, David Gill, is adamant that the player, who signed a new contract 18 months ago, will not receive a pay rise should he stay at United. But Ronaldo deflected suggestions that the clubs’ contrasting stances would determine his decision and maintained that he was still “happy” at United.

“I want to be happy regardless of where I play,” he added. “I can be happy everywhere, if I am with people I like, if I am animated, motivated. Am I motivated to continue at United? I am always motivated. I am ambitious and I want to always improve. I don’t know the future but I will be motivated.”

Real’s president Ramon Calderon insisted yesterday that Ronaldo remains his club’s main target, and that United were trying to bump his price up. “This type [of transfer] is hard but we’re going to go for it all the same,” he said.

Carlos Queiroz, for one, believes that Ferguson is well placed to keep hold of Ronaldo while admitting that he “dreams” of one day succeeding Ferguson as United manager, just 10 days after resigning from his post as assistant to become the head coach of Portugal.

“If you asked that of a million coaches, I think there is not one single coach in the world who does not have that dream. I’m one of those million coaches that shares the dream,” said Queiroz, who has signed a four-year deal with the Portuguese Football Federation.

“It was a very tough decision [to leave]. I had a fantastic time with a great club and it was a privilege to work with such fantastic players and with Sir Alex. To be part of his family was such a huge feeling, so to make the decision to leave for a second time was really very difficult. But I hope and think that people understand that the challenge of being the coach of your own country is one you cannot ignore.”

He added: “I’m sure that everybody knows that Sir Alex has great skills and authority as manager, so once he is saying that [Ronaldo will not be sold], it says he is confident in the situation.”

United began their three-game tour of South Africa with a 1-1 draw against Kaizer Chiefs here on Saturday, a fixture that provided further evidence of Wayne Rooney’s worrying inability to control his combustible temper.

The 22-year-old was substituted by Ferguson midway through the second half after receiving a yellow card for a late challenge on the Chiefs defender Tinashe Nengomashe. Rooney had been fortunate to escape at least a caution for kicking out at the full-back Onismor Bhasera shortly before half-time.

Ferguson said: “He is a born fighter and he gets frustrated in some games. You don’t want him to take it every game but he is getting better at controlling himself. He had a little spat with the right-back but I don’t think it warranted anything. There were some tasty tackles out there but it was a really good, competitive work-out and that helps you get an edge.”

Chris Eagles’ header earned a draw for United after a clumsy Gary Neville challenge led to a first-half penalty which was converted by Jonathan Quartey, but Ferguson was happy with the defender’s contribution on the latest step in his comeback from lengthy injury problems.

“Anyone who has played football knows that, when you get to your 30s and have been out of the game for 16 months, your comeback is very, very difficult. But his enthusiasm and the speed of his play on Saturday was quite phenomenal.”