MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid still have their heart set on Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo, Spanish media insisted Saturday amid fresh reports of the Portuguese star's "dream" of starring at the Bernabeu.
Spanish sports daily AS said Ronaldo would ultimately move to Spain and reported that United coach Sir Alex Ferguson had told him he could go next season, the Premiership and European champions having had their way in keeping him for now.
AS added that it understood Ronaldo - touted all summer as an 80 million euro Real target - would only leave Old Trafford for the Spanish champions despite reports that Manchester City, following their buyout by billionaire Arab owners, would bid a record 135-million-pounds (170 million euros) for him.
The newspaper said it had information a pre-accord for a five-year deal had already been drawn up.
Britain's Daily Mirror earlier quoted Ronaldo as explaining the summer tug of war for his services to Inside United magazine was prompted by the fact that "I have a dream of playing at Real and I thought it was time to move on."
"I never hid the fact that I wanted to play in Spain, at Real Madrid in particular, and I thought it could be the right moment."
The 23-year-old added that a further attraction was the closeness of Madrid to his family in Portugal - but he admitted he had been "naive" to imagine he could force through a move.
"What I said publicly, which was maybe a little naive, I take total responsibility for. I just said what I thought: I have a dream of playing at Real and I thought it was time to move on.
"People can't be upset about me fulfilling a childhood dream. I knew Real were interested in me and they had, allegedly, made a substantial offer. For a while, I wanted United to accept. If we hadn't been European champions, I probably wouldn't have thought about going to Madrid."
He insisted he would always give his all as long as he remains in United red.
"I'm 100 per cent professional and have always given my heart and soul to this club. If one day I leave, I want to do it knowing I did everything I could to help the club win as much as possible."
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nburpitt - Man Utd are 9th in the league, but they have also played 2 games.... Every team above them have played 3. If United win their game, they'll be joint top! Anything just to take a stab at United
Can anyone confirm the rumour that man citys new owner AL-FACK-IM (if it moves)
will rename the club "STOCKPORT CAMEL'S" ????
sell him to man city for £150million fergie!
The biigest stars in any sport will always get a lot of press,
be thankful he's getting a lot of press for good reasons:
He's such an outstanding player he can dream about playing for one of the 2 biggest clubs in the world,
while still playing at the other biggest club in the world !
i suppot united and would be happy to see him go he is a good footballer but only interested in the money an as much as we are not as good wen he is in the team i have hated watching him for last few yrs as he is a lousy role model wit his arm waving and diving
man u need him badly look there 9th in the leauge and ronaldo's not playin til november
He's set on going so watch the Jan transfer window could be on his way. MAN U ARE NOTHING BUT AVERAGE WITHOUT HIM.
More desperate reporting from Spain.
AS and Marca have no creditibility left!!!
ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
give it up... for the sanity of us all!!
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