Ferguson: Ronaldo staying at Old Trafford
(CNN) — Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says Cristiano Ronaldo will be staying at the newly-crowned European champions despite being publicly courted by Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Ferguson has been irritated by questions about the Portuguese star’s future and used Friday’s post-Champions League media conference to spell out his determination to keep him at Old Trafford.
When you want to keep someone you work hard to do it, he told the Press Association.
That is a fact not lost on Manchester United but it is a fact not lost on Real Madrid either.
We sold them Ruud van Nistelrooy and David Beckham because we wanted to.
Ferguson’s comments were clearly aimed at Real’s German coach Bernd Schuster and club president Ramon Calderon who said that United trying to hold on to Ronaldo against his will is akin to slavery.
The remarks drew a ferocious response from Ferguson who said Real had no morals in their dealings.
You get used to the way Madrid perform in these things, he said.
The simple facts are (Ronaldo) has another four years left on his contract. That is the first thing.
And Calderon makes that great statement that slavery was abolished many, many years ago. Did they tell Franco that? Give me a break.
Schuster also told Spanish television channel Noticias Cuatro: Sooner or later, Cristiano Ronaldo will wear the white shirt. I hope that it is when I am still at the club.
He added: If there is any chance of signing him, Real Madrid have to try it.
The speculation stepped up after Ronaldo, who scored in Wednesday’s final against Chelsea but also missed a penalty in the shootout, appeared to leave open the possibility of a move to Real when questioned by reporters.
