Ronaldo 'very happy' at Manchester United

Tuesday 20 January 2009 17:39 GMT
Comments
(GETTY IMAGES)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Cristiano Ronaldo has given his clearest sign yet that he intends to stay at Manchester United by declaring: "I feel at home here."

Fresh stories have emerged from Spain this month claiming the Portugal winger will move to Real Madrid in the summer after the Primera Liga champions failed to sign him last year.

However, Ronaldo has reiterated that he is happy to remain at United.

"Everything that revolves around Cristiano Ronaldo is a bit of speculation," he told Portuguese channel RTP. "Everything that I do generates a certain interest from the press and public.

"But 90 per cent of what is said and written about me stems from speculation. The only thing that is true is that I am happy at Manchester United.

"This is my home. Because I am winning things, because of friends, because of fans, I have always felt very loved.

"I feel at home here, it is a very lovely stage in my career, as much because of the coach, who has always supported me, as because of the players.

"I feel part of the furniture at United. I don't know what is going to happen tomorrow, but I feel very happy here."

Last season was Ronaldo's best as his 42 goals helped fire United to Barclays Premier League and Champions League titles.

The 23-year-old has been duly rewarded for his stunning season with a host of individual honours including the Ballon d'Or and the Fifa World Player of the Year award.

Ronaldo admits his rise to fame at such a young age has come as a surprise even to him.

"To be honest I never imagined playing at a club like Manchester United," he continued. "I dreamed of Benfica, Porto and Sporting, but never arriving at this level.

"I always dreamed of being a professional footballer but never even thought about signing for a club like United, to the extent that even when they came to see me I thought nothing would come of it, but after it proved true that they were interested in me."

Despite winning almost everything in football, Ronaldo insists he still has a burning desire to add more awards to his already heaving mantelpiece.

"I have never counted them, but there is space for more still," he said. "I want to win more things.

"What I have already won is an incentive, but I want to win more.

"In two or three years from now I want to have another Golden Boot, another Ballon d'Or and, who knows, maybe another World Player of the Year award."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in