RONALDO IN NEW CONTRACT TALKS

Ronaldo told a Portuguese radio station that he would be staying at United in the short to medium term and that contract discussions with the club on the subject have begun.

"We have talked and I hope to reach agreement as soon as possible. Nothing has been decided yet and I would like to stay. I would like to play in Spain one day, but I am happy here at Manchester. You can never be certain of anything in life, but I am happy here and I want to stay here.

"In football there are no guarantees. If I don't leave now, if I leave in two, three, four, five years I would be happy. I am at a great club."

The worth of a contract in football is debateable, but Ronaldo's current deal expires in 2010 and the thought of the 22-year-old staying for another two years after that will entice Old Trafford.

Ferguson:

"Cristiano is at the right club. He wants to stay. Why should he want to go anywhere else?

"We have been negotiating for a few weeks now and hopefully we can come to an agreement where he will stay with us for the next few years."