KIEV: Cristiano Ronaldo may have played his last game for Real Madrid afterwinning a fourth Champions League crown with the Spanish side in a 3-1victory over Liverpool on Saturday, saying he would soon make anannouncement on his future.
“Right now we need to enjoy ourselves but in the next few days, I’ll givean answer to the fans who have always been by my side. It was beautiful tobe at Real Madrid,” Portugal forward told television network beIN Sportsafter the game.
“The future of any Madrid player is not important, we have just madehistory.”
Karim Benzema scored Real’s opener while substitute Gareth Bale strucktwice, including a sensational overhead kick, to seal a 13th European Cupwin overall and their fourth title in five years after Sadio Mane hadequalised for Liverpool.
Ronaldo, who is Real’s all-time top scorer, was asked to clarify hiscomments but continued to give ambiguous answers.
“I don’t have any doubts, it’s not important, I have to rest now, go andmeet up with the Portugal team and in the next few weeks (I’ll make anannouncement),” he added before he joins up with his country’s World Cupsquad for the tournament in Russia.
The 33-year-old Ronaldo, who became the first player to win five ChampionsLeague titles since the competition changed format in 1992, including onewith Manchester United, reacted angrily when asked if he was disappointednot to have scored.
“Who’s disappointed? Perhaps they need to change the name of the ChampionsLeague to the CR7 Champions League. Who has the most titles and who has themost goals?” said the Portuguese, who has scored a record 120 goals in thecompetition.Ronaldo wanted
Real coach Zinedine Zidane could not give an answer when asked about thetiming of Ronaldo’s comments and said he had not spoken to the playerbefore the game about his future.
“Cristiano has to stay no matter what. We’ll see what happens next, but forme he should stay,” said the Frenchman.
Real captain Sergio Ramos also urged Ronaldo to remain at the club but saidhis teammate had to make clear what he meant.
“I’m sure Cris will speak at the end of the season. If there’s somethingbehind this, he should come and clarify what it is today,” Ramos said.
“Cristiano is a key part of this team, he likes to feel loved and we allwant him to stay, he won’t find a better place than here, he’s oursuperstar.
“Everyone is free to take a personal decision but I hope he stays here formany years,” he added.
Ronaldo caused a stir last year a few days after Real beat Juventus 4-1 inthe final when Portuguese newspaper A Bola reported that the forward wantedto leave Madrid as he was not happy with how he had been treated by theSpanish club.
Ronaldo’s desire for a new contract was believed to be behind last year’sstories and he has still not signed a new deal at Real, who he joined fromUnited in a then world record transfer worth 85.5 million pounds ($113.77million).