Manchester United chief executive David Gill has said Cristiano Ronaldo will not be offered a new contract to keep him at Old Trafford.
Gill admitted Ronaldo's reluctance to pledge his future to the club may be due to him looking to earn the money it has been suggested Real Madrid are prepared to pay him, but says United will remain steadfast.
Although Ronaldo refused to talk about his future in a recent interview, United remain certain that he will stay at the club.
"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," Gill said.
"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, 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."
When asked whether he thinks Ronaldo is being coy due to get a pay rise, Gill added: "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. |