Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed he wanted to continue his career at Old Trafford after fresh press reports linked him with a move to Real Madrid at the end of the season.
The Portugal winger has long been a target of Real interest but the 23-year-old said: “I know it will be hard but I want to achieve even more things with these great players we have at United.
“We can dominate. Manchester has a lot of young players – myself included – so the future for the club looks good. I want to be here, to be a part of the success that I believe lies ahead.”
Ronaldo has registered in Spain the trademark “CR9” in a move which AS said was an “obvious” sign that the striker will join Real Madrid at the end of the season.
He already operates two clothing stores in Portugal under the “CR7” trademark, a combination of his initials and the shirt number he wears for both the English side and the Portuguese national team.
The number 9 Real Madrid shirt is currently used by 27-year-old Argentine striker Javier Saviola who is expected to leave the club.
AS reported on Tuesday that Ronaldo will join Real in the summer for €85 million under a secret pact made between Real president Ramon Calderon, the player and his agent Jorge Mendes.
After picking up the FIFA World Footballer of the Year award, Ronaldo told Spanish public television station TVE that he was learning Spanish, a comment that further fuelled speculation over a possible move in the summer.
