Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday assured that he will be in condition to play the first leg of his side’s Champions League last 16 tie against Manchester United next on Wednesday. The striker, who celebrated his 28th birthday Tuesday is away with the Portuguese national side, but has been struggling with an ankle problem in recent days, reports news agency.
“It was a slight strain, but I am a lot better now. I will be in
conditions to play at the weekend and against Manchester,” assured
Ronaldo in an interview with sports paper, Diario AS. With his birthday
in mind, the striker looked to the future, admitting he didn’t know
whether or not he would be able to continue playing until 38 years old,
like his former Manchester United teammate, Ryan Giggs.
“I am working to do that, they say that when you get to 32-33 years
old, you change the way you play. You are not as fast, but you gain in
experience,” he said, before looking to the more short term. ”I want to
leave my mark at Real Madrid and I will only do that by defending my
club with all of my strength. I don’t think about comparisons with other
player, nor about records, because that isn’t good,” he said.
“The fans can see that i give my body and soul to defend Real
Madrid’s shirt and I am happy by the affection I get from the fans. I
know they love me and that is very satisfying. When I hear them singing
my name, it is fantastic, because I always give my all,” said
Ronaldo. Although he is loved in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Ronaldo
is not popular with other set of fans, although it doesn’t seem to worry
him.
“I can’t make everyone happy. Not even God was able to do that, so I
can’t do it either,” he said. Finally, Ronaldo was asked about his early
season declarations when he said he was “sad”, which prompted
speculation he would leave the club.
“That has changed, because I am doing what I like to do, which is
play football and I feel happy on the pitch and with my companions.
Maybe my way of thinking has changed as well, so I feel better than I
did then,” he admitted, although he refused to say whether or not he
would sit down to and discuss a new contract with the club. ”I am not
going to talk much about that, because it is not important: what is in
my head now is for Madrid to win the Champions League and the King’s
Cup. A new contract is not in mind now and I am not worried about it,”
he said, adding that money was not a factor.
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