Cristiano Ronaldo pledged on Wednesday to stay with Manchester United for at least the coming season, but still wants to join Real Madrid.
United manager Alex Ferguson confirmed Ronaldo’s decision, announced on Wednesday in a Portuguese newspaper interview, and said the winger will be embraced when he rejoins his teammates later this week.
The Portugal international, who will be sidelined until October following ankle surgery, was quoted as telling Publico that he believed the Spanish champions submitted a “very high” after he expressed a desire to join them.
PHOTO: EPA
“For some time what I wanted was for Manchester to have agreed to my transfer to Madrid,” Ronaldo said. “Saying otherwise would be fooling myself and others.”
Ferguson persuaded Ronaldo to stay at Old Trafford during a meeting with the player last month.
“We knew this was the case,” Ferguson said of the interview. “I flew to Portugal a few weeks ago to clear the air. He has also spoken to some of the players.”
“The boy has been going through some troubled times in terms of the approaches from the people in Spain, but once he knew my stance he then settled down and he gave the interview tonight which we are all pleased about. It is very positive and we will welcome him back here this week,” Ferguson said.
Ronaldo is contracted to United for almost four more years and Ferguson has been steadfast in refusing to sell him.
“Ferguson listened to my arguments, I listened to his and we agreed that it would be best for both parties for me to continue,” Ronaldo said. “This why I can affirm that I will play for Manchester during the next season.”
Ronaldo said he will display full commitment to United’s cause next season.
“Before there are rumors and speculation that I will be upset, I want to make one thing clear: anyone who says or writes such a thing will be lying,” he said. “I will be playing for Manchester with all my heart and soul. I will fight for and honor my jersey with the same dedication I have always shown.”
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
Playing soccer and competing for trophies is the best way that many transplanted Hong Kongers and Macanese have found to stay in touch, and to interact with Taiwanese society, said officials at the Taiwan-Hong Kong-Macau Football Friendship Cup, which was held on April 13. Twelve clubs, mostly of players and coaches originally from Hong Kong and Macau, took part in the tournament in New Taipei City. The event is sponsored by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council. Participating teams were from the wider Taipei area, Hsinchu, Taichung, Kaohsiung and other areas. They divided into two