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CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) -Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is sure Cristiano Ronaldo will still be playing with the English champions for the upcoming season.
"I can say he'll be a Manchester United player next season. That's our stance - he won't be sold," Ferguson said Friday, several days after flying to Portugal to meet with Ronaldo, who has said he wants to move to Real Madrid.
"The meeting went well," Ferguson said. "I think we both put across our points of view, where we stand and where the player stands ... It was very amicable, there were no problems. That's where we are and we carry on."
Ronaldo first said he wanted to leave United last month, but Ferguson didn't make contact with the winger despite complaining to FIFA about Madrid's conduct.
"I was not going to interrupt my holiday, believe me," Ferguson said. "I wasn't panicked because the player is under contract so the strength and the rights are with Manchester United.
"What we have done well is to say nothing. We've kept quiet on this matter and kept it private and what I said to Cristiano remains private."
Ronaldo, who is recovering from ankle surgery, is not on United's tour of South Africa. He is not expected to play with the team until October.
"He's on crutches for the first four weeks, he'll be in rehabilitation for the next four and then the following four he'll be back into football training," Ferguson said. "The time mapped out is three months and we won't bring him back a day earlier than that.
"I think when players have operations we have a responsibility that the player comes back 100 percent."
Ronaldo scored 42 goals last season to help the Red Devils win English league title and the Champions League.
Ferguson said he was expecting a tough match in Saturday's opening tour match against Kaizer Chiefs.
"We have played them four times, and it's been tough each time," Ferguson said. "To be honest, that's what we want out of a preseason game."
United captain Gary Neville, who played in last Saturday's friendly at Aberdeen after missing most of last season, is looking forward to more action in South Africa.
"It's been tough not playing for so long," Neville said.
