Cristiano Ronaldo will be here next year, he thinks

26 October 08 by Bill

If you thought Ronaldo was heading to Madrid next summer, you weren’t the only one. But it appears we were wrong. Ronaldo has today said that he sees himself playing at Old Trafford in the 2009/10 season. Bear in mind this is Cristiano Ronaldo’s answer so it’s a close to a ‘yes’ as you’re going to get:

“Only God knows the future. I insist that I am a Manchester United player and now I think that next year I will continue here.”

Ronaldo reserved special praise for Sir Alex Ferguson, highlighting the importance of the manager in his decision to stay with the Champions and continue at Old Trafford:

“He has been a key person. I respect him a lot, because it was him who signed me and he has played a very important part in all that I have won. In Lisbon I reached an agreement with him and it was decided that the best thing for all was to continue. He listened to my arguments and I listened to his. Now I understand that it was the correct decision. I am with Manchester United body and soul.”

Another master stroke by Sir Alex then; the man really is a legend. It will be a sad day when Ferguson does retire, which from what he said at the beginning of the season will be one, perhaps two more campaigns after the current one.

Which does leave one lingering thought. I always believed the hardest job United had to face in the coming years was replacing the manager. Now I think the hardest job will be replacing both manager and Ronaldo at the same time.