Ronaldo wants to retire at Real
Summer of discontent behind him as Madrid crowned world champ
ABU DHABI — Cristiano Ronaldo said he wants to finish his playing career at Real Madrid after making more history to help the Spanish giant be crowned world champion on Saturday.
Ronaldo scored the only goal of the Club World Cup final against Brazilian side Gremio to win the tournament for the fourth time and become its all-time top scorer with a tally of seven.
“I would really like to, but things don’t depend on me. What depends on me is what I do on the pitch,” said Ronaldo, when asked if he planned to retire at Madrid.
“I am not the one who runs the club, that is for those in charge. My job is on the pitch and I think I am doing it well, the rest I can’t control.”
Just over a year ago, Ronaldo signed a new Madrid deal which expires in 2021.
However, after leading his team to the Champions League title in June, speculation he was set to leave Real swirled during the summer following reports the 32-year-old was unhappy with the club’s 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.
“Obviously, but at the right moment,” said Real coach Zinedine Zidane when asked if Ronaldo should be rewarded with another contract.
“For 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.”
Ronaldo has smashed Real’s club records since joining from Manchester United in 2009 and is way out in front as Madrid’s all-time top scorer with 434 goals in 414 appearances.
He also picked up his fifth Ballon d’Or to match Barcelona rival Lionel Messi’s 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.
“He 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,” Perez told Real Madrid TV.
“I watched Alfredo di Stefano when I was a kid, he is the successor to him. This is a different Madrid, but Cristiano has marked an era.”
Ronaldo claimed he was the best player in history after picking up his latest Ballon d’Or this month and bullishly backed up that bold statement when asked about comparisons to Di Stefano.
“I don’t have to keep speaking constantly about myself, I continue to believe what I said two weeks ago at the Ballon d’Or,” he said.
“I am a very confident person and the numbers don’t lie. The numbers speak for themselves.
“I am very happy, I remain very motivated to keep winning things at a collective and individual level. I still feel strong enough to continue my trajectory as a player and to win trophies which is what I like most.”