Cristiano Ronaldo ended speculation of him making a return to Manchester United on Sunday by signing a new 5-year contract with Real Madrid.
The 28-year-old, whose previous deal had been due to run out in 2015, had been heavily linked with a return to United following the arrival of Gareth Bale this summer.
But Ronaldo has finally killed off any chance of rejoining the English champions by putting pen to paper on an extended deal at the Bernabéu.
"Manchester gave me so much and I'll never forget them," Ronaldo said at a press conference. "But United is in the past.
"Now this is my home and my family is here and I'm happy. I respect every club but my goal is to be here and play here to the end of my career.
"Nobody knows the future but I want to be here for another five more years and to win things.
"If you are at the best you want to stay at the best. Real Madrid is the best there is and I've got a new contract to stay here."
The new contract reportedly makes Ronaldo the highest-paid player in world football with a major salary hike.
Reports in the Spanish media suggest that the Portuguese winger will earn €17 million net for each of the next five seasons.
That figure sees him top previous best paid players, Lionel Messi (Barcelona, €16 million), Neymar (Barcelona, €15 million), and Zlatan Ibrahimović (Paris Saint-Germain, €14.5 million).
Ronaldo, though, insists that money was not a motivating factor in his decision to stay at the club
He added: "In life some things are more important than money. It is important, yes. But it's not the priority, that is being at the best club in the world.
"The President wants to sign the best players in the world and I include myself among them. The club is ready to win more Champions, more leagues and more cups. The problem wasn't just about money."
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| Cristiano Ronaldo speaks to the media after signing a contract renewal for Real Madrid Photo: Getty Images |
The 28-year-old, whose previous deal had been due to run out in 2015, had been heavily linked with a return to United following the arrival of Gareth Bale this summer.
But Ronaldo has finally killed off any chance of rejoining the English champions by putting pen to paper on an extended deal at the Bernabéu.
"Manchester gave me so much and I'll never forget them," Ronaldo said at a press conference. "But United is in the past.
"Now this is my home and my family is here and I'm happy. I respect every club but my goal is to be here and play here to the end of my career.
"Nobody knows the future but I want to be here for another five more years and to win things.
"If you are at the best you want to stay at the best. Real Madrid is the best there is and I've got a new contract to stay here."
The new contract reportedly makes Ronaldo the highest-paid player in world football with a major salary hike.
Reports in the Spanish media suggest that the Portuguese winger will earn €17 million net for each of the next five seasons.
That figure sees him top previous best paid players, Lionel Messi (Barcelona, €16 million), Neymar (Barcelona, €15 million), and Zlatan Ibrahimović (Paris Saint-Germain, €14.5 million).
Ronaldo, though, insists that money was not a motivating factor in his decision to stay at the club
He added: "In life some things are more important than money. It is important, yes. But it's not the priority, that is being at the best club in the world.
"The President wants to sign the best players in the world and I include myself among them. The club is ready to win more Champions, more leagues and more cups. The problem wasn't just about money."
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- Cristiano Ronaldo scores fantastic free-kick vs Chelsea, celebrates towards Mourinho
- José Mourinho: Cristiano Ronaldo thinks he knows everything!
- Cristiano Ronaldo honoured as Sporting Lisbon's 100,000th member
