The Cristiano Ronaldo transfer saga has swung back in Manchester United's favour after the Portuguese ace said he will "definitely stay" at Old Trafford next year.

Ronaldo signed a five-year extension to his contract at Old Trafford only last year, but speculation has persisted that the player will make a move to the Bernabeu.

Ronaldo's non-committal stance to United before and immediately after Wednesday's Champions League final did nothing to dampen the flames of speculation, giving Real renewed vigour with which to continue their pursuit.

But the 42-goal ace has attempted to put an end to the talk by saying he expects to remain with the newly-crowned European champions next season.

He said in The Sun: "My future will be clear next week. Everyone will be pleased - my club as well as me.

"I think I will definitely stay here next season. Yes I want to stay. I have played five years for this club and I'd love to stay.

"I love the people, the players are fantastic, the atmosphere is unbelievable, the staff are great. That is the reason why I want to stay."

He added: "We won the most important trophies this season. I want to do it again next season, but no one knows the future."

Meanwhile, United boss Alex Ferguson backed Ronaldo to stay, vowing to fight to hang on to his most prized asset.

Ferguson has lost David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy to Real in the past, but he claims Ronaldo's current situation is far different.

"When you want to keep someone you work hard to do it," the boss said.

"That is a fact not lost on Manchester United but it is a fact not lost on Real Madrid either.

"We sold them Ruud van Nistelrooy and David Beckham because we wanted to."

But Real boss Bernd Schuster is determined to get his man and despite having earlier in the week claimed he did not hold out any hope of capturing the 42-goal winger, Schuster says he expects to see Ronaldo at the Bernabeu at some stage of his career.

Schuster told Spanish television channel Noticias Cuatro: "Sooner or later, Cristiano Ronaldo will wear the white shirt. I hope that it is when I am still at the club."

Schuster added: "If there is any chance of signing him, Real Madrid have to try it."

Mike Hytner / Eurosport