ABU DHABI: Cristiano Ronaldo insisted he wants to finish his playing career at Real Madrid after making more history with the goal that saw the Spanish giants crowned world champions.
Ronaldo scored the only goal of the Club World Cup final against Gremio on Saturday to win the tournament for the fourth time and become the all-time top scorer in the competition with seven goals.
鈥淚 would really like to, but things don鈥檛 depend on me. What depends on me is what I do on the pitch,鈥� said Ronaldo, when asked if he planned to retire at Madrid.
鈥淚 am not the one who runs the club, that is for those in charge.
鈥淢y job is on the pitch and I think I am doing it well, the rest I can鈥檛 control.鈥�
Ronaldo, 32, signed a new deal to 2021 with the club just over a year ago, but sparked speculation over his future after leading Madrid to the Champions League in June due to his apparent discontent with the club鈥檚 lack of involvement in a tax case brought against him by Spanish prosecutors.
The Portuguese appeared in court in July over accusations he evaded 14.7 million euros ($17.3 million) worth of tax between 2011 and 2014.
鈥淥bviously, but at the right moment,鈥� said Real coach Zinedine Zidane when asked if Ronaldo should be rewarded with another new contract.
鈥淔or us it is fundamental Cristiano stays. He is at his club, his home and no one can do what he keeps doing, so hopefully he stays here until he retires.鈥�
Ronaldo has smashed Real鈥檚 club records since joining from Manchester United in 2009 and is way out in front as Madrid鈥檚 all-time top scorer with 434 goals in 414 appearances.
He also picked up his fifth Ballon d鈥橭r to match Barcelona rival Lionel Messi鈥檚 record mark earlier this month and Madrid president Florentino Perez hailed Ronaldo as the heir to club legend Alfredo di Stefano, who lead Real to win the first five European Cups.
鈥淗e is the best without doubt. Not just for his talent or his technique but his ambition, his effort, his leadership, it is difficult to find players like Cristiano,鈥� Perez told Real Madrid TV.
鈥淚 watched Alfredo di Stefano from when I was a kid, he is the successor to him. This is a different Madrid, but Cristiano has marked an era.鈥�
Ronaldo claimed he was the best player in history after picking up his latest Ballon d鈥橭r and backed up that bold statement when asked about comparisons to Di Stefano.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 have to keep speaking constantly about myself, I continue to believe what I said two weeks ago at the Ballon d鈥橭r,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 am a very confident person and the numbers don鈥檛 lie. The numbers speak for themselves.
鈥淚 am very happy, I remain very motivated to keep winning things at a collective and individual level. I still feel strong enough continue my trajectory as a player and to win trophies which is what I like most.鈥�
鈥� AFP