Jul 18, 2008 - 11:53 AM
0 shoutsBy Ken Gaunt PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Ticker) -- Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted Cristiano Ronaldo will not be sold and also confirmed he will be out for three months with an ankle injury.
Ronaldo has sent out mixed messages about his future and has been linked with a move to Real Madrid. But Ferguson put the record straight Friday after meeting the Portuguese superstar.
"I can say (Ronaldo) will be a Manchester United player next season," Ferguson said. "That's our stance, he won't be sold."
Ronaldo, who currently is sidelined to recover from offseason ankle surgery, is resting while Manchester United prepares to face Kaizer Chiefs in the Vodacom Challenge on Saturday.
Ferguson is adamant that Ronaldo, the two-time reigning English Premier League MVP, will be wearing United's colors next season when he is fully fit.
"The meeting went well," Ferguson said. "I think we both put across our points of view; where we stand and where the player stands. I wasn't panicked because the player is under contract, so the strength and the rights are with Manchester United.
"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 and there were no problems. That's where we are and we carry on."
Ronaldo, who scored a league-leading 31 goals and led United to titles in the Premier League and Champions League last season, underwent ankle last week. Ferguson insists he will not be rushed back.
"He is on crutches for the first four weeks and will be in rehabilitation for the next four weeks," Ferguson said. "Then the following four weeks, he will be back into football training. The time mapped out is three months, and we won't bring him back a day earlier than that."
