United chief executive Gill stands firm on Ronaldo contract
Sunday, 20 Jul 2008 10:41
Gill says Ronaldo will not be offered an improved contract
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Manchester United chief executive David Gill insists winger Cristiano Ronaldo will be forced to honour his existing contract at the club this season.
Ronaldo has been linked with a possible transfer to Real Madrid all summer but Gill is adamant that not only will Ronaldo remain at Old Trafford, he will not be offered more money to do so.
Gill says United have already made a significant commitment to the Portuguese star and expect him to return that by showing loyalty to the European champions.
"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," said Gill.
The United chief said there was no plan to sell Ronaldo to Madrid and that they could not be forced into a sale, either by the player or the Spanish club, because of the long-term contract they have with Ronaldo, which is due to expire in 2012.
Gill said: "The player is under contract so the strength and the rights are with Manchester United."
It has been rumoured that Ronaldo's agent could be using the situation with Madrid to get more money out of United but Gill says they have no intention of trying to match the hypothetical amounts being mentioned by Real.
He said: "If the figures bandied around that Real Madrid are talking about are true, we wouldn't go anywhere near that. That would be lunacy."
Ronaldo is currently sidelined with an ankle injury and is expected to be out for the next three months.