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Ferguson criticises Spanish duo over Ronaldo
MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Sir Alex Ferguson insists he was always confident Cristiano Ronaldo would extend his Manchester United contract and criticised Real Madrid and Barcelona for their public pursuit of the player.
The Portugese winger, 22, ended months of speculation by agreeing a new, five-year contract that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2012.
Ferguson admitted he was delighted to have secured the services of a player who arrived at United for 12 million pounds (23.8 million dollars) from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 and who the United manager regards as currently the best in the world.
But he believes the task of keeping Ronaldo in the Premiership was not made any easier by what Ferguson considers to have been an attempt by the two Spanish clubs to unsettle the youngster.
"I had no doubts but everyone else had outside Old Trafford," Ferguson said.
"But I think there were some grounds for the speculation in the sense they keep talking in Spain the way they do and unsettling clubs like ourselves.
"I don't think they have a care for Manchester United or anyone else when they decide to put their neck out for the best players in the world. And they have shown that over the years.
"They don't have much care or regard how you feel. When it continually goes on and on and on, you start worrying about the substance and the source of it even though you know deep inside of you it's a game that they play, particularly when their elections are coming up.
"But there is no point reporting them to UEFA, I don't think that would do any good. I don't think it matters if you fine them.
"But I was confident about Cristiano because one he is happy here, his family is happy here. He is at the right club and he has progressed and developed in the club the way he has.
"The one thing is he is here until 2012 which is great news for us so I don't think you need to worry about anything else. I'll be gone by that time!"
A question mark has hung over Ronaldo's Old Trafford future ever since he returned from the World Cup after playing a controversial role in England's quarter-final exit at the hands of Portugal.
The winger was heavily criticised for his clash with club team-mate Wayne Rooney that led to the England striker's dismissal before Sven Goran Eriksson's side exited the competition on penalties triggering concern he would seek a fresh start in Spain's La Liga.
But Ferguson revealed he convinced the player the controversy would pass and added: "I think he is happy here in the Premiership. He has seen his career has risen here.
"He plays in front of 76,000 people every week here and he is happy here so these are very important factors.
"There is a good atmosphere about the dressing room and he knows it's a good club anyway. In essential terms there was no reason for him to think about leaving really, other than there is always that thing about people perceiving Real Madrid as Galacticos or whatever it is they call them.
"They have a pre-conceived notion of themselves and Barcelona are a fantastic football club too but you can't say they are ahead of Manchester United."
Ferguson is in no doubt that Ronaldo is the game's outstanding player on current form and refused to rule out the possibility of the Portugese ultimately being viewed on a par with Diego Maradona and Pele as one of the world's best ever players.
"He is 22 and can get better," the manager added. "At 22 he has the same skill factor as Maradona and Pele, obviously. But you have to remember Pele played in a world cup final at 17 which is extraordinary and Maradona played in two World Cup finals and was the player of his era.
"But Cristiano at the age of 22 is definitely getting to the stage where he is the best player in the world and then it will be left to everyone else to decide if he is as good as Maradona or Pele but that's all in front of him."
Ronaldo will face Watford in the FA Cup semi-final this weekend as United attempt to build on their stunning midweek Champions League quarter-final triumph over Roma and continue their quest for a repeat of the 1999 treble.
Ferguson said: "We have never lost an FA Cup semi-final before and I hope we don't start now. We will have respect for them because they have some good players and a good manager.
"Every team as the ability to win a one-off cup tie and we will certainly show them a lot of respect."
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