MANCHESTER, England -- Cristiano Ronaldo pledged to stay with Manchester United for at least the coming season but still wants to join Real Madrid, according to a Portuguese newspaper interview published Wednesday.
The winger was quoted as telling Publico that he believed the Spanish champion submitted a "very high bid" after he expressed a desire to join them.
"For some time what I wanted was for Manchester to have agreed to my transfer to Madrid," Ronaldo told the paper. "Saying otherwise would be fooling myself and others."
But manager Alex Ferguson convinced him to stay at Old Trafford next season when the pair met in Lisbon last month.
The 23-year-old Ronaldo, who scored 42 goals last season, has four seasons remaining on his contract.
"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, sidelined until at least October following ankle surgery, said he will display full commitment to United.
"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."
Ronaldo apologized for sparking the rift between United and Madrid, saying he was "the main culprit for all this controversy."
"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," Ferguson said after Wednesday's 0-0 exhibition draw against Juventus. "It is very positive, and we will welcome him back here this week."
