Ronaldo almost says ‘Sorry’, but United fans’ reaction is crucial

The Manchester United winger was due back in the north-west on Thursday night after finally giving up — for now at least — on hopes of a lucrative transfer to Real Madrid this summer.

It has been a mucky business from the start and Ronaldo perhaps deserves some semblance of credit for at least accepting the blame for that, when he sat down with a
journalist from Portugal’s Publico newspaper earlier this week.

Not leaving yet: Ronaldo says he is happy at Old Trafford but still dreams of going to Real one day

It is tempting to wonder, though, just what senior United professionals such as Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs — both ‘one club’ men — have made of their team-mate’s talk of loyalty and on-going dedication to the United cause this season. Perhaps the dictionary definitions are different in Portugal.

Ronaldo said in the interview: ‘It’s no sacrifice for me, it’s a great honour to stay.

‘I will give everything I have to Manchester United. I want to defend the European title and help United become world champions.

‘I’m very aware of what this club have done for me and I’ll be eternally grateful, come what may.

‘Manchester United and their fans can be sure that I’ll never forget them, no matter what happens.

‘They’re special and they’ll always have a place here (he puts hand on heart). If we hadn’t been European champions I probably wouldn’t have even thought about going to Real Madrid.

‘And there is something else that should be mentioned: I never wanted to leave against United’s will.

‘When they turned down the offer, the people at United made it very clear how much they wanted me. I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but now I can really appreciate it.’

Having had a frank meeting with his manager Sir Alex Ferguson in Lisbon last month it is perhaps no surprise that Ronaldo now understands United’s feelings. Such
conversations tend to have Ferguson doing most of the talking.

‘Believe me, it makes me proud to know how much he thinks of me,’ added Ronaldo.
‘And he knows I feel exactly the same way about him. He has been one of the most important people in my playing career.

Father figure: Ferguson

‘Not only because of what I’ve learned and continue to learn from him in sporting terms, but also in human ones as well.

‘If it were humanly possible I would like to have him always by my side. That shows how much affection, admiration and respect I have for him. He has always been like a
second father to me at United.’

Having lost his own father last year, it is clear that a need to be closer to his native Portugal has played some part in Ronaldo’s desire to move to Spain. It is also the case that he will move to Madrid before too long.

Back now to recuperate further from ankle surgery, it remains to be seen if the 23-year-old can motivate himself sufficiently to reach the remarkable individual heights of last season.

He said: ‘After we’d won the Champions League I felt that in five years I had helped win everything there was to win. So I felt that maybe I needed a new challenge.

‘I never hid the fact that I wanted to play in Spain, at Real Madrid in particular, and I thought this could be the right moment.

‘Apart from the challenge, everyone realises that Spanish and Portuguese culture and lifestyle are more similar. Those were the reasons that made me consider the change.

‘I also have to recognise that my family would welcome the change.

‘The chance of being an hour’s flight from my mother and the rest of my family was very attractive, even more so playing for a club like Real Madrid. What I said publicly, which was maybe a little naive, I take total responsibility for.

‘People have to understand one thing: at the age of 18 I arrived at a dream club like Manchester United. It was a dream come true. But, even at that moment, I was thinking about playing in England for some years and then going to play in Spain. People can’t be upset about me fulfilling a childhood dream.

‘I’m aware that, whatever the circumstances, there will always be speculation about me.

‘I knew that there would always be someone who’d say that my main concern was making more money. Others would insist that my vanity couldn’t resist being linked to the biggest transfer fee of all time at the age of 23.

‘Of course I am proud to see my work recognised, but none of this had any major effect on what I wanted. In fact, if it was just a question of money I would never leave Manchester United.

‘The best proof of what I’ve just said is the fact that I’ve just made a major investment in a house in Manchester, even though I didn’t have to. I did it not just for my own comfort but also for those closest to me.

‘The people at Manchester United, particularly the manager, understood my reasons.

‘And people can be sure of one thing: everything I’ve said comes from the bottom of my heart and is the only truth.’

He may understand if United supporters reserve judgment on that particular claim.