Ronaldo decides to stay at United

'It emphasises the point that Cristiano is happy here and that he is at the right club' A spectacularly good week for Manchester United fans got even better today when Cristiano Ronaldo signed a new five-year deal that should keep him at Old Trafford until 2012. Over the past few months, Ronaldo has been repeatedly linked with a £54m move to Real Madrid, but today he insisted he never entertained serious thoughts of leaving United. "I am delighted," he said. "I spoke with Sir Alex and [chief executive] David Gill about my future and everyone knew that I wanted to stay. I am very happy at the club and I want to win trophies and hopefully we will do that this season." United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was equally ebullient after the deal was announced. "It is fantastic news, it emphasises the point that Cristiano is happy here and that he is at the right club," he said. "He has a great relationship with the team, staff and the fans and he will go on to be one of Manchester United's great players." Fellow United winger Ryan Giggs believes the Old Trafford club have secured the services of the best player in the world. "I don't believe there is anyone who could rival him as being the best player in the world," Giggs said. "For someone in his position, and of his age, to be as consistent as he has been, is remarkable. To secure his future for the next five years is great news for everyone." Ronaldo has been in scintillating form this season, scoring 20 goals in 50 games, and was also instrumental in United's 7-1 destruction of Roma on Tuesday. La Repubblica described him after the game as "the best in the world. Or at least the most entertaining." Right now, few people would disagree. Fans Reaction "Great news to see Ronaldo has signed. The notion of him leaving for Madrid seemed ludicrous anyway. United are look good for trophies this season and has a solid and youthful foundation for continued sucess. Real are in a period of contracted transition from the gallactico era. They will come good again but are not the best place for the world young talent to ply their trade. They risk becoming embroilled in a period of relative decline. At this moment in time, therefore, I can see little purely sporting reason to elave United. 54 million is a lot of money but when you have a player playing this well at 22 you make damn sure you keep him for at least the foreseeable future. Money might run football these days but clubs still neceitate sucess on the field. There is no better economic stragergy than young brilliant players to provide a long period of quality football. Selling is never an option in this case for clubs with big ambitions." - tasd2, Manchester United fan. "Awesome news on Cristiano Ronaldo signing a new five year deal that puts any speculation regarding his future to bed, so it goes to show that Real madrid dont always get there way or was a lot of the original speculation the press assuming that they would be going for him in the summer?" - 16_itachi, Manchester United fan. "haha ronaldo signs new deal to keep him at ot till 2012 that shoul shut real and barca up and also their idiotic papers.great day for us today hope he celebrates new deal with a hattrick against watford wembly here we come" - RED_DEVIL23, Manchester United fan. "Great news that Ronaldo is staying, this shows a clear intention to the prem and to europe that United are going to be a serious force for the foreseeable future. 2 or 3 additions in the summer and we could well be on the dawn of another golden era." - mikeyt43, Manchester United fan. Reference: guardian.co.uk, teamtalk.com