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The saga reached such epic proportions that even Sir Alex Ferguson began to question where Cristiano Ronaldo's dazzling feet might go, but last night the Portuguese international insisted he had no reservations about signing a contract that will cost Manchester United a minimum of £31m ($83m) over the
next five years.
Ronaldo yesterday ended 10 months of intense speculation about his future when he resisted repeated overtures from Real Madrid and Barcelona to commit himself to Old Trafford until 2012.
In the process, the 22-year-old from the sunshine isle of Madeira could bask in a salary that elevates him to the top of the United pay-scale and reflects his status as one of the finest talents in the world.
"We have satisfied the lad," said Ferguson of a contract worth in the region of £120,000 a-week.
The deal represents both a coup and a relief for United, who had to convince the former Sporting Lisbon player not to turn his back on English football last summer following the vilification that accompanied Wayne Rooney's red card during England's World Cup quarter-final defeat against Portugal.
Since then Barcelona and particularly Real Madrid have made blatant plays for the mesmerising talent and it was not until negotiations between the Old Trafford chief executive, David Gill, and Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, concluded late on Thursday night that United - and the Spanish club - knew the uncertainty was over.
Ronaldo, however, a £12m signing from Sporting in 2003, insisted: "I wanted to stay.
"I am at the right club and this is why I signed. I'm delighted.
"I am very happy, everything is good with the club, the president, the boss, the staff and the supporters have helped me so much, and the big reason is I want to win trophies."
United meet Watford in the FA Cup semi-finals this evening (Sunday NZ time), are top of the Premiership and await a Champions League semi-final with Milan, all of which helped smooth negotiations with Ronaldo, who has been instrumental in the pursuit of the treble with 20 goals this season and recognised the input of Ferguson in elevating his status beyond expectation.
"Everyone has helped me in my short career but I've improved so much at this club because I arrived here so young," he said.
"I have learned a lot already but I still have more to learn and I want to keep going."
Ferguson believes the security of Old Trafford, in contrast to the political minefields of the Bernabeu or Nou Camp, was also a factor in Ronaldo's decision and continue a trajectory that has recently brought comparisons with such luminaries as Pele and Maradona.
"He's the best player in the world at the moment and his improvement has been astronomical," the United manager said.
"He scored eight goals in his first season: this season he's already got 20. That is an amazing total for a winger. Maybe some winger in some league I've never heard of has scored 20 goals this season but I doubt it.
"Why should he move? He's seen his career rise here, he plays in front of 76,000, he is well liked and there is a great atmosphere within the dressing room.
"There was no reason for him to leave, other than the fact people perceive Real Madrid as a club for galacticos, or whatever they call them.
"They have this notion about themselves, and Barcelona are a fantastic club too, but I can't say they are miles in front of us."
Yet Ferguson did admit that constant reports in the Spanish press had been a concern.
"There was some ground for the speculation with the way they kept talking in Spain and trying to unsettle clubs the way they do," he said.
"When it goes on continually you start to worry about the source and the substance of it, but we also know it is a game they like to play when their elections are coming and that Cristiano is happy here."
- INDEPENDENT
