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Manchester United's star player Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed in Portuguese newspaper Publico that he will play for the European Champions “for at least another year.”

Ronaldo, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid for weeks, told Publico: “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.”

United's relationship with Real has been a casualty of the enduring transfer speculation for which Ronaldo has admitted he is the guilty party.

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.”

However Ronaldo told the paper he had not ruled out an eventual move to Real Madrid at some point in his career.

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.”

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