Ronaldo signs long-term Real deal

Cristiano Ronaldo has no intention of returning to Manchester United
15 September 2013

Cristiano Ronaldo signalled an ambition to finish his career at Real Madrid after signing a new deal that ties him to the club for the next five years.

Ronaldo was pictured on Real Madrid TV on Sunday signing his new deal, alongside president Florentino Perez, before fronting a press conference at the Bernabeu.

The 28-year-old Portuguese forward, whose previous deal had been due to run out in 2015, expressed delight at agreeing terms after speculation in the summer he could be tempted back to Manchester United.

But the possibility of a sensational return to Old Trafford, where he is still appreciated four years after his departure, seems remote after Ronaldo stressed the Spanish capital is where he wants to stay.

"I'm really happy here," he said. "I'll be here five more years. I just want to win trophies for this club.

"I appreciate the fans like me a lot to be here. I'm happy, I want to give my best on the pitch.

"I will be honest with you - everyone knows I was in Manchester for six years. Manchester is in the past.

"Now my club is Real Madrid. This is my home, my family is here and I'm really happy here.

"I respect all the clubs who ask about me. But they always know that my decision, that my only goal is to be here and to play at this club until, maybe, the end of my career.

"The future nobody knows."

Ronaldo's future was called into question following Madrid's protracted pursuit of fellow winger Gareth Bale in the summer.

They finally landed their man at the end of the transfer window, for a world-record 100million euros, which meant Ronaldo was no longer the most expensive player in the world.

Madrid laid out the red carpet for the Portuguese on Sunday, however, with Perez labelling his new deal as one of the greatest days in the recent history of the club.

"It's a great day for the club," he said. "We have made the dream of all Madridistas.

"Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid will remain forever."

Ronaldo, whose image was emblazoned across the Bernabeu's VIP Box which staged Sunday's press conference, was similarly effusive in his thanks to Perez.

"For me it is a very important day," he said.

"I want to thank my team-mates, the coach and, above all, the president. With this agreement I am very happy and privileged to continue in this house.

"It has given me many things. For me today is as if it were the first day.

"I will always give the best for this shirt. Hopefully be here until the end of my career. This club is very big."

Madrid did not release the financial details of Ronaldo's new contract but reports have suggested it will make him to highest paid player in the world, eclipsing the package Bale put pen to paper on earlier this month.

"In life there are things more important than money," Ronaldo said when asked if his deal was now the most lucrative in world football.

"It is important, I am not going to lie, but the project is to win things.

"I feel integrated into this project. The issue is not whether I'm the best paid in the world, the second or the third."

The forward also revealed he had told Perez at the end of last season that he would remain and that only the final details of the deal had held up Sunday's signing.

"We had an agreement since the end of the season," he said. "That has been finalised now because there were some papers to complete.

"The president and I gave the word at the end last season. We both wanted to continue at the club."

Ronaldo and Bale played in the same Madrid team for the first time in Saturday night's 2-2 draw at Villarreal when both players were on target.

Bale took 39 minutes to score on his debut before Ronaldo sent Madrid ahead early in the second half, only for Bale's former Tottenham team-mate Giovani dos Santos to level 20 minutes from the end.

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