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Fergie: Meeting went well, Ronaldo will stay

18/07/2008

Sir Alex Ferguson has reiterated his view that Cristiano Ronaldo will not leave Manchester United this summer after confirming he met the player for talks last week.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of his side's pre-season tour of South Africa, the manager revealed he had a "very amicable" discussion with Ronaldo in Portugal, but denied it was a crisis meeting.

"The meeting went well - I think we both put across our points of view - where we stand and where the player stands," Ferguson explained.

"I can say he'll be a Manchester United player next season. That's our stance - he won't be sold."

Ferguson also claimed he "wasn't panicked" by the continuing media speculation that seemed to send increasingly strong messages the Portuguese winger wanted to leave for Real Madrid.

"The player is under contract so the strength and the rights are with Manchester United," he continued.

"What we have done well is to say nothing. We've kept quiet on this matter and kept it private and what I said to Cristiano remains private.

"I did go and see him last week in Portugal and it was very amicable – there were no problems. That's where we are and we carry on."

On Ronaldo's ankle injury, which was operated on last week, Ferguson said he expects the player to be out for the full three months that was initially predicted by medical experts and insists he will not rush him back early.

"He's on crutches for the first four weeks, he'll be in rehabilitation for the next four and then the following four he'll be back into football training," the Scot said.

"The time mapped out is three months and we won't bring him back a day earlier than that."