Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during a La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015. AP
Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo is staying at Real Madrid for at least another two years, the forward said on Monday.
The 31-year-old three-time Ballon d’Or winner was picking up an award as top scorer in Spain for last season from Spanish daily Marca when he made the comments.
In a light-hearted interview he dampened incessant transfer rumors linking him with a switch to either big-spending Paris Saint-Germain or former club Manchester United.
“I’m still under contract for another two years. After that, we’ll see,” said Ronaldo.
“What I want most of all is to stay here for several years. As for the future, you’ll see what happens.”
Ronaldo joined Real in 2009 from Manchester United, a year after winning his first Ballon d’Or world player of the year trophy having helped the English giants to the 2008 Champions League crown.
Two more Ballon d’Ors would follow at Madrid, with whom he lifted the Champions League again in 2014.
Apart from having one of the two best players in the world on their books — Ronaldo saw the Ballon d’Or revert to Lionel Messi for a record fifth time a month ago — Real have no interest in letting any stars leave as they are banned from signing players over the next two transfer periods having broken rules regarding the signing of youth players.
That punishment has temporarily been suspended, though, as world football governing body FIFA examines Real’s appeal, although they are likely to reach a final decision before the transfer window opens again in the summer.