Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed his admiration for Real Madrid in an interview that will alert the Spanish club to his possibile availability.


Madrid have made no secret of their desire to sign the PFA and Football Writers' Player of the Year, although they have always insisted that they would make not approach unless they received encouragement from the player.

Ronaldo has now given his clearest indication yet that he would woud like to play for the Spanish outfit.

"It is always important that other teams like you, it gives you motivation. The other teams say your name all the time, say they will give you this - it is good. Let's see what happens after the Champions League final," Ronaldo told Sky Sports News, when asked about Madrid's interest.

"I have said 1,000 times, I am very happy here. I want to stay in Manchester. This is my role but the future - nobody knows. Only God knows.

"I have said 10,000 times I have a dream to play in Spain, but sometimes dreams do not come true. I still dream, I still dream.

"I am happy at Manchester United, but the future? You never know.

It was only earlier in the week that Ronaldo moved to play down speculation over a move to Madrid, with the 23-year-old keen to reaffirm his desire to stay at Old Trafford.

Although the Portugal international signed a contract extension last year to keep him at Old Trafford until 2012, Madrid have consistently expressed an interest, with reports suggesting they would be prepared to part with in the region of £100million.

"Real have the solvency and the financial power to be able to take on a signing of the magnitude of Cristiano Ronaldo," the club's general director, Miguel Angel Arroyo, told the Spanish press on Wednesday.

"It would be economically beneficial due to the merchandising that would arise from it."