Ronaldo not expecting to finish career with Real Madrid

Pa
Wednesday 28 April 2010 11:50 BST
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Ronaldo thinks of football in 'cycles'
Ronaldo thinks of football in 'cycles' (GETTY IMAGES)

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Real Madrid playmaker Cristiano Ronaldo is already plotting his Bernabeu exit.

Ronaldo moved to Madrid for a world-record transfer fee of £80million just last summer.

However, the former Manchester United man admits he will not be spending the rest of his career with the Primera Division giants.

"Football is all about cycles," said Ronaldo. "I believe that you are in teams for cycles.

"If you have already won everything with a team you have to change and that's what happened to me with United.

"I wanted a different football and different goals and I am very happy to have taken this decision. Alex Ferguson understood my decision. I continue to talk to him.

"I spent several years wanting to play in Madrid. But I don't see myself here at 40.

"You are in teams for cycles."

Despite spending over £200million last summer following president Florentino Perez's return, Madrid and Ronaldo face the very real prospect of ending the year trophyless.

Manuel Pellegrini's men are a point behind Barcelona with four games left to play but Ronaldo has reiterated his belief that Madrid will pip the defending champions to the title.

And to that end the Portugal international hopes compatriot Jose Mourinho can do them a favour by defeating Barca in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, with Inter Milan currently leading 3-1.

"It will be an incredible game," Ronaldo added in an interview to Cadena Cope. "It will be difficult for both of them.

"Barca has to come back and Inter have to defend the two goals.

"It's very difficult to know who I want to win, although I would prefer Barca to lose and be eliminated.

"I am from Real Madrid and I like my club and if Barcelona crash out of Europe it would be something that could affect them in the league and which we could take advantage of.

"It would be a bad year if we don't win the league because a club like this has to always win something every year.

"Not winning this year wouldn't be a failure, but it would be a lost year. But I am confident we can win the league."

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