Looking back at Manchester United’s goalless draw at the San Siro last month, Cristiano Ronaldo told Italian paper Il Corriere dello Sports:

“Julio Cesar truly did great things – his saves were superb,”

“I was impressed by [Davide] Santon; he is a really interesting lad and a great footballer. [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic is a great striker and a reference point for Inter. Our defenders will need to be very focussed to stop him at Old Trafford.

“However, if we will play as well as we did in the first leg, I’m sure we will go through.”

The irony here lies in the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo, who was so close to signing for Inter Milan as a teenager, was also just about to see them off at the San Siro had it not been because of Julio Cesar’s heroics on the night.

“It was a long time ago and I don’t even remember it well,” asserted Ronaldo, reflecting on how he could have become a Nerazzuri.

“I was 17 or 18 and someone mentioned the possibility of a move to Inter.

“I can’t really recall what they were saying, but we did discuss it. Then Manchester United arrived and I came here.”

The number 7 talismanic Superstar seems to enjoy life in England, but due to last summer’s transfer saga, the 24 year old winger now has to deal with the media’s pressure and rumours that surround him.
Whether it’s all part of mind games ahead of the second leg encounter at Old Trafford, or it’s a sincere advise, this is what Figo had to say to Marca four days ago concerning Cristiano Ronaldo’s future:

“Real Madrid is the most important club in the world, the best club in the world.

“I think Ronaldo has already wrapped up a stage at United.

“He has won everything he can with the English club, which is another great club, but he should have other goals now, other ambitions, and Real Madrid would allow him to achieve more importance, more relevancy.

“That is what I have told him. I don’t know what he thinks now.”

People who will fear that Ronaldo may well change his opinion and decide to leave for Spain anytime soon are David Gill and the rest of Manchester United’s Board members.
According to News of the World, the Red Devils are preparing a £10.4million-a-year contract in an attempt to keep Ronaldo at the club.

Details of the mega-deal suggest that Cristiano Ronaldo will be paid wages of £160,000 a week plus £40,000 for image rights and commercial activities – which will let him become the highest paid Premiership player by far.

This new contract should keep him until 2014 and a source close to Ronaldo believes that the 24 year old will be very happy to remain at Old Trafford much longer than some may expect:

“Cristiano wants to clear his head of the Real Madrid move once and for all. When he agreed to stay at United last summer he thought it would be just for one more year,” The News of the World quoted the source as saying.

“But now he seems to be setting his mind on the long term because he realises he can fulfil all his ambitions at Old Trafford.”

Cristiano Ronaldo, who has three years left with Manchester United, could buy out his contract at the end of next season should he desire to leave the World Champions.
But this option doesn’t seem to be in Ronaldo’s mind.

The ambitious Portuguese Star is hungry for more success with the Red Devils this season again and he is determined to write off Inter Milan’s hope of progressing in Europe at their expense come Wednesday night.

Written by: Angela Asante