By James Dall Last updated: 28th June 2008
Ferdinand: Hopeful of Ronaldo stay
He is a Manchester United player now, and long may it continue.
Rio Ferdinand on Cristiano Ronaldo
Quotes of the week
Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand is hopeful in-demand winger Cristiano Ronaldo will return to the club for pre-season training as normal.
Speculation over Ronaldo's future at United is rife following Real Madrid's public courting of the two-time PFA Players' Player of the Year.
It has been suggested Real are poised to launch a record-breaking offer for the 23-year-old, if he declares that he sees his footballing future away from Old Trafford.
But Ferdinand is 'sure' that the 23-year-old, who is contracted to the club until 2012, will remain with the Red Devils and join up with his team-mates for pre-season as planned.
"Like everyone else, we would love him to be with us next season," Ferdinand told Sky Sports News.
"When we go into pre-season I am sure Ronaldo will be there with us.
"Yes, I have spoken to him. We have spoken about everything else other from that (speculation). I will let him get on with his holidays.
"He is entitled to a good rest. I am sure when we come back to pre-season and we will have a laugh and a joke about it with him.
"But in all seriousness we want our best players to stay, and Ronnie falls into that category.
"He is a Manchester United player now, and long may it continue."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Hull vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Everton |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Fulham |
| 16:00 | Chelsea vs Man Utd |
| Monday 9th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Liverpool vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Liverpool vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Wolverhampton |
| 15:00 | Hull vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Arsenal |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Everton |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Bolton vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Wigan |
| 16:00 | Stoke vs Portsmouth |
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Everton |
| 20:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Hull |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 4 Arsenal | |
| Man City 3 - 3 Burnley | |
| Tottenham 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 1 Bolton | |
| Wednesday 4th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 0 - 0 Man City | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Sunderland 2 - 2 West Ham | |
| Portsmouth 4 - 0 Wigan | |
| Bolton 0 - 4 Chelsea | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Fulham 3 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Burnley 2 - 0 Hull | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Arsenal 3 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Sunday 25th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Man City 2 - 2 Fulham | |
| Liverpool 2 - 0 Man Utd | |
| Bolton 3 - 2 Everton | |
Sunderland fan Lucinda Gittins was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Paul Merson fears for Phil Brown - and says Hull couldn't be facing a worse game than home to Stoke.
Liverpool should stand by beleaguered boss Rafa Benitez, says Reds legend John Adridge.
Arsenal maintained their recent fine form on Saturday as they eased to a 4-1 victory over Wolves.
Aston Villa and Tottenham made their Champions League aspirations clear as Arsenal also won but Man City were held by Burnley.
Kevin McDonald's late equaliser ensured Man City's winless run continued as Burnley claimed a 3-3 draw.
Chelsea go into the match with Man Utd at Stamford Bridge in arguably their best form of the season.
Super sub Jason Roberts came off the bench for Blackburn to score two and kill off Portsmouth 3-1.