MANCHESTER United chief executive David Gill is adamant that Cristiano Ronaldo will not receive a pay rise.
The 23-year-old is recovering from an ankle operation which will keep him out of action for three months, but Sir Alex Ferguson has already told the Portugal forward he will not be sold to Real Madrid after a very public transfer saga since the en
d of the last season.
When asked if Ronaldo would be offered a new contract, Gill said: "No. He only entered into the previous contract 18 months before and in terms of where he's at in our wage hierarchy he's doing pretty well."
When asked if the player's behaviour was partly to get a higher salary from United, Gill said: "Possibly, but not necessarily, and if the figures bandied around that Real Madrid are talking about are true, we wouldn't go anywhere near that. That would be lunacy."
Instead, Gill called on the player to show "commitment and loyalty".
He added: "The player is under contract so the strength and the rights are with Manchester United.
"I think we've been pretty clear all along that Ronaldo has got a contract until 2012. He's a valuable member of the team and that's the situation.
"Obviously there's some issues there, but that's for Alex and is why Alex had the meeting (at the end of last week], to discuss things and put our point of view.
"I'm sure Cristiano put his point of view and hopefully we can move forward.
"All we were doing, effectively, is saying we clearly have a player who is one of the best in the world. He entered into a new contract, his third with us, only 18 months after his previous one.
"With that, we believe, go some responsibilities and obligations. There was an increased salary and we clearly feel there has to be some commitment and loyalty and he can't just say, 'I've entered into it, but I'll leave a year down the line', especially after the season we've just had.
"It's a two-way street and contracts are entered into with a view to getting that kind of commitment."
The player himself did nothing at the weekend to clear up the issue of his future, refusing to confirm Ferguson's claim that he will remain at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo is on holiday in America as he recovers from ankle surgery, and claims he has still to make a firm decision on his future.
"I've had hundreds of questions about Manchester United and Real Madrid," he told ESPN. "What do you want me to say? That I'm going or I'm staying?
"I don't know about the future, only God knows it. I can't say any more.
"Great players are always hounded by great clubs. It's a normal situation. I have always been hounded, not only this year. It's not strange for me, to see what happens."
Ronaldo, who will be out for three months with his ankle injury, claims that any decision on his future will not be based on money. "I want to be happy regardless of where I play," he added. "I can be happy everywhere, if I am with people I like, if I am animated, motivated.
"Am I motivated to continue at United? I am always motivated. I am ambitious and I want to always improve. I don't know the future, but I will be motivated."
Meanwhile, Ferguson is keen for Rio Ferdinand to play some part in the Vodacom Challenge match against Orlando Pirates tomorrow.
The squad head off to Durban today to prepare for the game following the 1-1 draw against Kaizer Chiefs at Newlands Stadium, where Chris Eagles grabbed the equaliser. Ferdinand was named in the team after sitting out the 2-0 friendly victory against Aberdeen the previous week.
However the England defender suffered a back spasm just before kick-off and was not risked, with Wes Brown taking his place. Ferguson is hoping Ferdinand will recover in time for the second game of the tournament.
"I will make some changes for the next match because we have to give everyone some minutes on the clock, Rio Ferdinand in particular," said Ferguson. "He missed the game at Aberdeen and is behind schedule in terms of games.
"But I would like to think he will be fit to take part on Tuesday."
The full article contains 740 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
