Cristiano Ronaldo has vowed to give everything in the Manchester United cause this season.Ronaldo has publicly abandoned his desire to play for Real Madrid - at least until next summer - and instead committed himself to Old Trafford. Any Red Devils supporters still sceptical after a summer transfer wrangle, which at one stage seemed destined to end in Ronaldo moving to Madrid, need have no fear. 'Before rumours emerge saying that I will play against my will, I want to make this clear - whoever says or writes that is lying,' he told Portuguese newspaper Publico. 'I will play for Manchester with all my heart and soul. I will fight and honour that shirt with the same commitment and dedication as always. 'After we'd won the Champions League, I felt that in five years I had helped win everything there was to win. 'We'd won the Premier League twice and I'd won a host of individual awards, including the best goalscorer in the Premier League, Champions League and in Europe. So, I felt that maybe I needed a new challenge. 'I never hid the fact that I wanted to play in Spain, at Real Madrid in particular, and I thought this could be the right moment. Manchester United and Real are probably the two biggest clubs in the world and it would never be an easy decision to make.' Ronaldo was adamant the chance to be the world's most expensive player and receive a wage increase at Madrid was not an issue. 'I knew that there would always someone who'd say that my main concern was making more money,' he said. 'Others would insist that my vanity couldn't resist being linked to the biggest transfer fee of all time at the age of 23. 'Of course I proud to see my work recognised, but none of this had any major effect on what I wanted. In fact, if it was just a question of money, I would never leave Manchester United.' Ronaldo is confident he will not get a bad reception from United fans. 'It's possible but I hope it doesn't happen,' he said. 'I know I'm a good professional, I know that no-one's harder on me than myself and that's never going to change, under any circumstances. 'The high point of my career was winning the Champions League. No-one will ever erase that from my memory, in the same way that no-one will ever erase the fact that I did it in a Manchester United shirt. 'What I said publicly, which was maybe a little naive, I take total responsibility for.' Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster believes it is a 'shame' that Ronaldo has decided to stay in England, but has urged his club to put the matter behind them and focus on the squad already in place. The Spanish champions had been involved in a persistent and very public pursuit of Ronaldo all summer. At one point United even reported Real to FIFA, such was their annoyance with officials at the Bernabeu, but the player's latest comments have surely ended the speculation until next May at least. 'You have to respect his decision,' admitted Schuster. 'He was free to do what he wanted and it's a shame that he isn't coming to us because he's a player who would really have improved this great group. United had agreed with Ronaldo's desire to end speculation over the matter and were informed about the interview before last night's 0-0 draw with Juventus. The 23-year-old is due to see a specialist in Amsterdam later today to have an updated assessment on the ankle he recently had operated. If as expected Ronaldo is given the all clear, he will fly straight into Manchester. Clearly, he was eager to end the speculation over his future before meeting his team-mates again - especially because a decision about where he would play this season was made last month after a meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson, once Portugal had been dumped out of Euro 2008. 'He heard my arguments; I heard his - and in fact, it was settled that the best for both parties would be for me to stay,' said Ronaldo, with Ferguson adding his view once proceedings at Old Trafford had reached their goalless climax. 'We cleared the air in Portugal, and the boy spoke to a few of the players as well,' said the Scot. 'The thing is, he knows he is happy here and has always been happy here. 'The fans have to understand it has been a very difficult time for him. He has been offered all this money - when his dad has died a young man and he is looking after his mother, his sister and his brother. 'But once he knew my stance he settled down - and as far as we are all concerned, the matter is finished. The boy is a United player - that is what is important.' Ronaldo's renewed commitment brings some welcome good news for United, who look like heading into the opening game of their Barclays Premier League title defence against Newcastle on August 17 missing 10 senior players for one reason or another. The virus affecting both Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick is yet to be resolved - while, despite the injury worries and confirmation they are under no legal obligation to release him, United will let Anderson stay in China to honour his Olympic commitment to Brazil. The shadow of Madrid will still linger over Ronaldo. 'I knew Real Madrid were interested in signing me and that they had allegedly made a very high offer to Manchester United,' he said. 'My desire was, for some time, that Manchester had accepted my transfer to Madrid. 'Saying otherwise would be to trick people and my own consciousness.' 'But hey, it doesn't matter. We've got a great group to get started on an important league campaign and fight for all the objectives we've set. 'It's a decision we have to accept.'

Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed he will remain at Manchester United for another season.The Portugal winger has been linked with Real Madrid throughout the summer, with the Spanish club maintaining their interest even though United repeatedly stressed Ronaldo would not be sold. At one point United even reported Real to FIFA such was their annoyance with officials at the Bernabeu. Ronaldo has hinted at a wish to move but has never publicly confirmed his intentions. However, in an interview to be published in Portugal on Thursday, while repeating his previously stated desire to play for Real, Ronaldo has also confirmed he will stay with United for another season at least. 'I will remain with Manchester United for at least another year,' Ronaldo told Portuguese newspaper Publico. He goes on to praise Sir Alex Ferguson, who flew to Portugal just after Euro 2008 for talks with Ronaldo. Ferguson returned in bullish mood, claiming he had a frank exchange with Ronaldo, who would be staying at United. While his stance was viewed as posturing in a battle that would be waged until the transfer window finally closed on August 31, the feeling in Manchester has been growing that Ronaldo has agreed to remain. That belief was reinforced by Real's surprise announcement yesterday that the arrival of Rafael van der Vaart from Hamburg would represent their only major purchase of the summer. Now Ronaldo has given United fans the news they were all hoping for. After scoring 42 goals last season as the Red Devils won the Premier League and Champions League double, Ronaldo is widely expected to be confirmed world footballer of the year in December. His presence at Old Trafford is huge, even if he will be missing until the end of next month following ankle surgery. Ferguson was always confident he would win the battle to keep Ronaldo but the news still represents a major coup for the Scot, who lost trusted assistant Carlos Queiroz, a close friend of the 23-year-old, to the Portugal national job last month. Ronaldo said: 'Sir Alex Ferguson heard my arguments, I heard his and, in fact, it was settled that the best for both parties would be for me to stay. 'Therefore, I can confirm that, next season, I will play for Manchester United. 'Before rumours emerge saying that I will play against my will, I want to make this clear - whoever says or writes that is lying. 'I will play for Manchester with all my heart and soul. I will fight and honour that shirt with the same commitment and dedication as always.' Ronaldo has also taken the blame for the transfer saga, which lasted for several months and damaged United's relationship with Real. He continued: 'I was responsible for all this controversy. 'I was the one who publicly expressed my desire to go to Real Madrid. I ended up being, even involuntarily, responsible for the poor relationship between the two clubs.' But he repeated that his dream of playing for Real remains and has not closed the door on a future move to the Spanish giants. He explained: 'I knew Real Madrid were interested in signing me and that they had allegedly made a very high offer to Manchester United. 'My desire was, for some time, that Manchester had accepted my transfer to Madrid. 'Saying otherwise would be to trick people and my own consciousness.'

    Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson could step up his attempts to sign a new striker after revealing Wayne Rooney is losing a battle to be fit for the start of the season. Rooney picked up a virus during the Red Devils' pre-season tour of Africa and is struggling to shake it off in time to be considered for either the Community Shield clash against Portsmouth on August 10 or the start of the Barclays Premier League season the following week. That leaves Ferguson seriously stretched in attack with Carlos Tevez and the seemingly out-of-favour Louis Saha the only established strikers fit and available. Fraizer Campbell, a transfer target for Hull, has impressed in pre-season but may not be ready for a regular starting role, while Cristiano Ronaldo is out injured. United boss Ferguson was, though, once again eager to put a full stop on the summer-long transfer saga involving the Portugal winger and suitors Real Madrid. Ferguson told the club's official website: 'I doubt we'll get Rooney fit for the start of the season with the virus he's had. 'It's a virus he picked up in Nigeria and it's not a nice one, but quite a few have had it. 'It's such a bad virus and he's got to be training to be fit.' Ferguson confirmed that Rooney was not suffering from malaria, against which the entire squad had been treated before the trip. It is deeply frustrating for Rooney, who also saw the start to last season disrupted by injury when he suffered a broken metatarsal against Reading on the opening day of the 2007/08 campaign. The news will come as a major blow to United, who will also begin the defence of their title without injured winger Ronaldo. Ronaldo underwent ankle surgery earlier this summer and is not expected to return to action until October. Ferguson continued: 'I don't know whether we will have a team ready. Nani is suspended, Anderson is in the Olympic Games. '(Michael) Carrick's come in this morning and he may play a part of the game on Sunday. 'They've said it's a bad virus and Wayne's not back in yet, he's not been training. It's been a long time.' Regarding the Ronaldo transfer, the Scot added: 'The matter is closed now. He (Ronaldo) is a Manchester United player - it's finished. He'll be playing here next season believe me. It's finished.' Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has also hinted their pursuit of Ronaldo may now be brought to an end after he revealed new arrival Rafael van der Vaart is their only likely purchase this summer. 'Rafael van der Vaart is the first and possibly the only signing of the summer for Real Madrid,' Calderon said. 'We believe that this squad is full of quality, of plenty of talent. It's a team which is a great family, very close. 'We said that the new arrivals would be few but of great quality. That seemed logical after two successful seasons in which we've brought in 19 young, promising players. 'This (the low number of signings) was a request of the board of directors.'

Cristiano Ronaldo should be given the green light to step up his recovery programme this week.While talk of a showdown between Ronaldo and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson seems to have dominated certain agendas, particularly in Spain, the Red Devils are more concerned about the 23-year-old's recent ankle operation. Indeed, United officials have reacted with some amusement to news of potential negotiations between Ronaldo and Ferguson, not least because the Portugal winger is not due to fly into England until later this week at the earliest. Reports in Spain a fortnight ago suggested Tuesday would be the day Ronaldo told Ferguson face-to-face of his desire to leave for Real Madrid. However, that will not be the case given he is now due to visit a specialist in Amsterdam to discover how successful his surgery has been. Only then is Ronaldo set to report in at Carrington, meaning it will be the end of the week at the earliest before he can speak with Ferguson. And given the United boss is under the impression both men discussed what they had to during a meeting following Portugal's exit from Euro 2008, he is not expecting any further dialogue about Ronaldo's future. The Red Devils - and Ferguson in particular - have made their position perfectly clear on the matter - Ronaldo, after just one season of a five-year contract, is going nowhere, no matter what price is placed on his head by officials at the Bernabeu. It is a situation Real president Ramon Calderon may find difficult to stomach but could be forced to accept given his repeated recent protestations that his club do not want to get involved in luring Ronaldo away from Old Trafford and will only act once Old Trafford officials signal their willingness to do a deal. Such statements have been greeted with mirth at United given the blame being placed at Calderon's door for the discussion over Ronaldo's future, which began almost as soon as the player got his hands on the Champions League trophy in Moscow last May. Although United have a healthy disregard for reports that come out of Spain, claiming most, including those that stated Ronaldo would return on Tuesday, have been proved false, they are aware most of them originate from Real.