Reticient after record

Cristiano Ronaldo refused to commit his future to Real Madrid just hours after becoming the club's joint-leading scorer of all time with two goals yesterday morning (Singapore time).

Ronaldo equalled Raul Gonzalez's record of 323 goals for the Spanish giants in their 2-0 Group A win over Malmo, despite Raul playing over 400 games more for Los Blancos than the Portuguese star, who also passed 500 career goals on the night.

Ronaldo has long been linked with a return to Manchester United, where he starred between 2003 and 2009 before a then-world record 80 million euro ($128m) transfer to Real.

A move to Paris Saint-Germain or even a shock transfer to Major League Football in the United States has also been rumoured.

"I am happy here, I want to win things here. I feel good but, as I have said millions of times, no one knows what will happen in the future," the three-time World Player of the Year told Spanish radio station Cadena SER.

"We will see what happens tomorrow but, at this moment, I am happy at Real Madrid.

"No one knows what will happen next year. I am happy here, but you never know what will happen in the future.

BIRTHDAY BASHING

"I have to achieve things here, I feel good, I want to win things with Real Madrid because I think this club have potential to win things, but I don't know what will happen in the future."

Ronaldo spoke to the Spanish media present in Sweden for the first time since February after Real were humiliated 4-0 by Atletico Madrid.

The Portuguese was heavily criticised for going ahead with his 30th birthday party the night of that defeat after Colombian rapper Kevin Roldan posted pictures of Ronaldo and other Real players enjoying themselves on social media.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique then sarcastically thanked Roldan for his part in Real's rivals' success after they won the treble of La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey last season.

"It isn't the moment to speak about these things. When I don't speak, it is because something isn't right, so every one can think what they like," added Ronaldo.

"It was my decision. I didn't want to speak and there is no one that obliges me to. I speak when I want to, Real Madrid have never put pressure on me to speak.

"Why do I not speak more often? Because the questions aren't good. What does this (Roldan) have to do with the game?

"You want to put me in a mess with what Pique has done, why does that matter to me?"

Most players may be keen to swop shirts with Ronaldo after a match, but not Malmo defender Anton Tinnerholm who insists his club's heavenly blue jersey is "the finest" following their 2-0 defeat by Real yesterday morning.

Despite his best efforts, the fullback couldn't stop Ronaldo from scoring twice.

"We had talked about making it tough for them when they came here," said Tinnerholm, who won his first battle with Ronaldo just 10 seconds in and played a major role in ensuring the Portuguese had one of his quieter nights.

"Ronaldo wasn't that visible, but he scored two goals. That says something about how good he is."

Asked if he had swopped shirts with his opponent after the match, Tinnerholm gave an answer that will be music to the ears of the 24,000 fans that packed the Swedbank Stadium and roared their team on from start to finish.

"No, the finest shirt is the Malmo shirt," he said. - Wire Services.

This article was first published on October 2, 2015.
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