Cristiano Ronaldo ruled out a return to Manchester United on Sunday by indicating a desire to finish his career at Real Madrid after signing a new deal that ties him to the club until 2018.
Ronaldo was pictured on Real Madrid TV signing his new contract, alongside president Florentino Perez, before fronting a press conference at the Bernabeu.
The 28-year-old Portugal forward, whose previous deal had been due to run out in 2015, expressed delight at agreeing terms after speculation in the summer he could be tempted back to United.
But the possibility of a sensational return to Old Trafford, where he is still appreciated four years after his departure, seems remote after Ronaldo stressed the Spanish capital is where he wants to stay.
“I’m really happy here,” he said. “I’ll be here five more years. I just want to win trophies for this club.
“I appreciate the fans like me a lot to be here. I’m happy, I want to give my best on the pitch.
“I will be honest with you – everyone knows I was in Manchester for six years. Manchester is in the past.
“Now my club is Real Madrid. This is my home, my family is here and I’m really happy here.
“I respect all the clubs who ask about me. But they always know that my decision, that my only goal is to be here and to play at this club until, maybe, the end of my career.
“The future, nobody knows.”
Ronaldo’s future was called into question following Madrid’s protracted pursuit of fellow winger Gareth Bale from Tottenham in the summer.
They finally landed their man at the end of the transfer window, for a world-record €100 million (Dh490m), which meant Ronaldo was no longer the most expensive player in the world.
The pair played in the same Madrid team for the first time in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Villarreal, when both players were on target.
Madrid did not release the financial details of Ronaldo’s new contract but reports have suggested it will make him the highest-paid player in the world, eclipsing the package Bale put pen to paper on earlier this month.
“In life there are things more important than money,” Ronaldo said when asked if his deal was now the most lucrative in world football.
“It is important, I am not going to lie, but the project is to win things.
“I feel integrated into this project. The issue is not whether I’m the best paid in the world, the second or the third.”
Ronaldo, whose image was emblazoned across the Bernabeu’s VIP Box which staged Sunday’s news conference, added: “For me it is a very important day.
“I want to thank my teammates, the coach and, above all, the president. With this agreement I am very happy and privileged to continue in this house.
“It has given me many things. For me today is as if it were the first day.
“I will always give the best for this shirt. Hopefully be here until the end of my career. This club is very big.”
sports@thenational.ae
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
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Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Company%20Profile
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