Ronaldo to be offered new contract Sunday May 08, 2005
New contract for Ronaldo
CRISTIANO Ronaldo will be offered a new, improved contract this summer as Sir Alex Ferguson continues to build his "new Manchester United".
And the Reds' boss sent out a message to champions Chelsea, who have reportedly been eyeing up the Portuguese whizkid.
"They can't sign everyone," said Ferguson, who revealed that Ronaldo is on a list of young players who will also be talking over new deals once the season is over.
Ronaldo's current £30,000-a-week deal still has until June 2008 to run, but United's policy is to try to have plenty of "padding" in the contracts of their top players to avoid losing them for nothing.
Tim Howard will also sit down to discuss an extension to his contract beyond June 2007, while Darren Fletcher, Wes Brown and John O'Shea are expected to be offered new deals.
Ronaldo is the prize signature, with Real Madrid also covetously eyeing the 20-year-old, and Ferguson is confident he will agree to sign.
"Critisano has three years left on his contract, and we are only doing what we do in a lot of these situations. We want all of these younger players tied to the club for a long time," said Ferguson. "He is happy and wants to sign."
The manager dismissed Chelsea's reported interest: "Any good player will be linked with Chelsea simply because they have a pot of gold. But they can't get everybody.
"The boy has been fantastic. The courage he has to play, his confidence and his ability have been terrific.
"Having said that, I dropped him at Charlton because he wasn't playing well!
"Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo, Fletcher, O'Shea and Brown - we want these young players to stay at the club and be the new Manchester United - which they can be.
"We are negotiating with a lot of young players, like we always do."
Rio Ferdinand's contract stalemate rumbles on, with no immediate prospect of resolution.
But Ferguson played down the booing and jeering the defender was subjected to by some sections of the United support at Charlton last week.
Said Ferguson: "Rio's contract is there and just needs him to accept it. There is no more I can do. But I don't think there was a backlash from the support at Charlton."
