Fergie - United best for Ron

Red Devils boss looking to the future

Last updated: 21st July 2008

Fergie - United best for Ron

Ferguson: Fatherly advice

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Sir Alex Ferguson has reiterated that Cristiano Ronaldo should stay at Manchester United and that a move to Real Madrid would be the 'worst thing' he could do at present.

The on-going saga over the possible transfer of the Portuguese has hit the headlines throughout the summer.

But manager Ferguson, speaking in Durban ahead of United's friendly clash with Orlando Pirates on Tuesday, believes the player is at the right club.

He said: "If you were asked for advice by your son, you would give him the best advice and the worst thing Ronaldo could do at the age of 23 is to go to Real Madrid.

"He is at the right club and a fantastic football club and the future is that he has signed a five-year contract and has four years left. That's definite because I have seen his signature.

"In the modern-day, young lads can be twisted by the talk of money, but if you saw Ronaldo after the UEFA Champions League final, he was the happiest boy in the world.

Best club

"I genuinely believe that I know what the best club in the world is for him and that is Manchester United.

"When you have young players, you want the best for them and you want to do the best for them."

Ferguson also knows it will be difficult to add to his squad this summer, despite reports of a bid for Tottenham Hotspur striker Dimitar Berbatov.

The United boss added: "We did a lot of stocking up last summer, buying four players of good ages as part of a policy of bringing in footballers who could develop and we think there is further progress there.

"I had 23 players in Moscow and they will still be there for this season because we are happy with the squad.

"It is difficult for us to buy and improve on that because we know why clubs don't want to sell their best players and we don't either."