Ronaldo 'wants to play at Madrid'

Ronaldo 'wants to play at Madrid'

Ronaldo scored 42 goals last season for Man Utd

Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Manchester United has taken a new twist after the winger was reported as saying he would like to play for Real Madrid.

Real have been tracking Ronaldo, 23, despite being warned off by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

"I'd like to play for Real Madrid but only if it's true they are ready to pay what Manchester United ask of them," he told respected Brazilian website Terra.

"However, it does not depend on me," said Portuguese midfielder.

"I'll only talk about this again after the European Championships," added Ronaldo. "Don't ask me any questions because I won't answer."

I'm sure when he was young his dream was to play for Real Madrid at one stage in his career Former Tottenham winger David Ginola

BBC Radio 5 Live's Mike Sewell who was with the Portugal squad in Switzerland on Thursday said he had spoken to another Portuguese journalist who had verified the translation of the website interview.

Earlier this week, Madrid president Ramon Calderon told Spanish newspaper Marca that the signing of Ronaldo "seems impossible", but was nevertheless keen to sign the former Sporting Lisbon man.

Last season Ronaldo scored 42 goals as United won the Champions League and the Premier League.

And former France international and Tottenham winger David Ginola told BBC Radio 5 Live he believes the best option for the winger is to stay at United.

"I'm sure when he was young his dream was to play for Real Madrid at one stage in his career," said Ginola.

"It would be no surprise to me if he went, but if it was me I would wait another two or three years because playing in the best league in world, playing probably for best club in world, there's nothing better than that.

"He still has a few things to achieve in this country and I'm sure he can win more trophies. He is so loved in England that people would be disappointed to see a player like that leave."

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Previously, Ferguson has maintained the Portuguese winger would not move, saying: "I'm confident about that. I'm very confident.

"It's a game Real play all the time, In the past they've done it with [David] Beckham, they've done it with Ronaldo, they've done it with my fitness coach last summer when they took him away from us, so we're used to it.

"It's a compliment to the standard of players we have, and we always seem to produce, but I am more than confident Cristiano will be with us next year."

"The Glazer family will not be messed about in this situation.

"We want Cristiano to stay for a long, long time. He is on a fantastic contract and quite rightly so - he's the best player in the world."