Rio Ferdinand: We want Ronaldo at Manchester United, there are no grudges

By Simon Mullock, sundaymirror.co.uk 20/07/2008

Rio Ferdinand (Pic:mrpaparazzi.com)

Rio Ferdinand has assured Cristiano Ronaldo he will be welcomed back into the Manchester United dressing room by every single member of Sir Alex Ferguson's squad.

The England defender has admitted that the summer saga surrounding Ronaldo and Real Madrid's £70million pursuit of the Portuguese winger has made it difficult to bask in the glory of United's Premier League and Champions League Double.

Ronaldo is recuperating from an ankle operation which will keep him out of action for three months while his United team-mates embark on a four-match tour of South Africa and Nigeria. But Ferdinand is adamant there will be no dressing-room revolt when the unsettled 23-year-old reports back to Old Trafford.

Ferdinand, speaking at United's luxury hotel in the shadow of Cape Town's Table Mountain, told Sunday Mirror Sport: "This summer, given the season we'd just had, should have been a time to think about our achievements and then begin our preparations for the challenges ahead.

"In the end, that became impossible because of the stuff going on with Cristiano and the things I was reading every day about him supposedly going to Madrid.

"My gut feeling is the same as it's been all along - he'll be at Manchester United next season.

"The players can't wait to see him back. There won't be any problems between Cristiano and the rest of the squad because we have always stood by what Sir Alex Ferguson above has said all along - Cristiano will be a United player next season. We have total confidence in the way Sir Alex has handled things because he has never taken us down the wrong road with anything he's ever done.

"Cristiano is a great guy. He never has any problems with anyone in the squad and I'm sure that will be the same when he comes back through the door.

"I am the same as any United fan. I don't want to lose such a great player and someone who scored 42 goals for us last season."

Ferdinand added: "I've spoken to Cristiano on the phone and there have been text messages between us.

"The specifics of what we discussed have to remain private, but he is in good spirits despite the disappointment of being injured and needing an operation.

"I don't think he will be distracted by what has gone on this summer.

At the end of the day he's a Manchester United player.

"He's not a silly boy, he understands that when you sign for United you stay a United player until the day comes when the club deems it is time for you to leave.

"It always comes down to what the club wants. The manager has made his comments and that's the position of the whole club."

Ferdinand will hand back the United captaincy to Gary Neville following the full-back's return from injury after leading Ferguson's team with such distinction last season.

But his ominous message to the rest of the Premier League and Europe is that the armband is about the only thing he is willing to give up this year.

Nine years ago, the unique Treble triumph represented the pinnacle for one great United team. Ferdinand says last season's achievements are just the beginning for a group of players who have time on their side.

The 29-year-old said: "Our goals this season are the same as they were last year - to win everything we play for.

"Winning the Premier League and the Champions League was an unbelievable achievement, but it changes nothing at United.

"Our objectives remain the same. It's not a case of being greedy. It is a fact of life about being a Manchester United player.

"We have set our standards high and we want to improve those standards every single year.

"We have only been in pre-season a couple of weeks, but I haven't sensed any kind of complacency.

"Everyone is running as hard as they've always done, we're all working hard, and the tackles have been really flying in during training.

"This squad is a lot younger than the one in 1999, We have players who have tasted a European Cup Final once and want to taste it again."

Ferdinand added: "Players like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville are an inspiration to me. Gary's won seven League titles, Scholesey has eight and Ryan has 10 and two Champions League medals.

"I'd love to be seen in the same light as players like that one day. I don't think I've got enough time left in the game to match Giggsy in terms of achievements but I'd love to get somewhere near."