Cristiano Ronaldo has ruled out a possible end-of-career move to either Qatar, Dubai or the US.
The Real Madrid footballer said he would not like to follow the likes of Xavi (who signed with Qatari club Al Sadd in May) or Andrea Pirlo and finish his career outside of Europe’s top leagues.
“In my mind I want to finish in the top level,” Ronaldo said, speaking on UK TV programme, The Jonathan Ross show (below). “I want to finish with dignity, so in a good club. It doesn’t mean that to go [to] USA or Qatar or Dubai is not good, but I don’t see myself [going there].”
Ronaldo, who turns 31 in February, said he expects that he will play for a number of years to come at the highest level.
“I have six or seven years left and I want to finish my career at the highest level, with dignity and in a great club,” he said.
Ronaldo didn’t rule out a possible return to Old Trafford, but said he’s happy at Real Madrid.
“I’m a huge supporter of Manchester United – as I say many times, I’m very comfortable in Real Madrid now, I feel happy… But as people know I like Manchester United, I love that club, but [the] future, nobody knows. But right now I feel good and I feel happy in Real Madrid.”
Current holder of the FIFA Ballon D’or award, he predicted that his great rival Lionel Messi would win this year’s top footballer accolade.
“To be honest I think Messi is going to win this year because this kind of trophy, it depends on votes. You win competitions, you win Champions League you win the league in terms of individual. I did probably the best season of my career which is good and I was the highest scorer in Europe [but] it’s all about votes, it’s difficult and to be honest I’m not very worried about that because as I said many times, I never [thought I’d] win three times to be honest,” he said.
He recently premiered his personal portrait film ‘Ronaldo’ in London. The film, made by the team behind documentaries on racing driver Ayrton Senna and singer Amy Winehouse, looks at his professional side as well as shows tender moments between Ronaldo and his young son.
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