Ronaldo won't jump ship
2005-12-22 15:38
Madrid - Ronaldo said he intends to remain at struggling Real Madrid and hasn't considered a return to Inter Milan.
The Brazil striker, whose team suffered a humiliating 2-1 home defeat to Racing Santander on Wednesday in their final game of 2005, scotched reports that he discussed his departure with Madrid's soccer director, Arrigo Sacchi.
"I have never thought about leaving. It's a lie that I have spoken to Sacchi about going. I'm a warrior and I have no intention of jumping ship," Ronaldo was quoted as saying Thursday by news agency Efe.
Ronaldo joined Madrid from Inter in August 2002 following difficult relations with then coach, Hector Cuper, but has occasionally said that he still thought fondly of the Italian team and their fans.
However, the Brazilian dismissed recent reports that he has informed Inter players, Luis Figo and Adriano, or the Italian club's officials of his desire to return.
"We're playing badly but publishing these things harms me because the fans believe them," he said.
Only major triumph with Madrid came in 2003
Ronaldo, whose only major triumph with Madrid came in 2003 when the star-studded team won the Spanish league, suggested he had taken a pay cut to join and said he would only leave if the club wanted him to.
"I plan to continue here. I made a big financial effort to come. I want to succeed here and I'm going to battle to do so," he said.
The striker, a three-time World Player of the Year, has complained of a lack of support at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, saying Madrid's recent home games were like playing on the road.
Although he scored his ninth league goal of the season on Wednesday, Ronaldo was again whistled by sections of the crowd, while the whole team was jeered at half-time and on the final whistle.
"At the moment, the crowd isn't important. We are trying to find our game. We're not happy but the team is keen to change the situation," he said.
Madrid's defeat was their sixth of the season - and their fourth at home - leaving them in fifth place after 17 games, 11 points behind leader FC Barcelona.
It was also their first league loss under coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro, who became the team's fifth coach in 2 1/2 years on Dec 4, when he replaced fired Vanderlei Luxemburgo.
- AP