Fergie confident on Ronaldo future
-
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United are in the box seat when it comes to deciding the future of World Footballer of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo.
The player continues to be linked with a big-money move to Spanish giants Real Madrid following last season’s drawn-out will-he-won’t-he transfer saga.
Recent reports claimed Madrid had already agreed a deal to take the Portuguese to the Bernabeu, despite assurances from the player that he remains happy at Old Trafford.
With the transfer window ready to re-open, the rumour mill is primed and ready to roll, but Ferguson insists he will ultimately decide the player’s future.
“The indications I’m getting from the dressing room are that the other players don’t feel he is behaving as if he is discontented,” Ferguson told the Sunday Times.
“He seems to be happy in his game and to know he is at the right club. Obviously you can’t stop teams pressing him with offers, but we have handled that the best way we can.
“His contract with us runs until 2012 and we are in the driving seat.”
Ferguson’s confidence over Ronaldo was echoed by Chief executive David Gill who claimed there was no need to speak to the player about his future.
"We've never had that discussion," he told BBC Radio. "There's absolutely no point in having that discussion.
"We made it clear last year he's on a long-term contract with us and it's never come up.
"He's been fantastic both on and off the pitch throughout, he's supported us in what we want to do commercially and he's been a model professional.
"He is not for sale. He's a great player and he's part of our club."