Cristiano Ronaldo wants to stay with Real Madrid 'for many years' to come

Cristiano Ronaldo said he hopes to stay at Real Madrid for "many years" as he accepted an award as the best player in the Champions League last season.

The 31-year-old led Madrid to European glory for the second time in May, scoring 16 goals and converting the winning penalty in the final against Atletico.

Ronaldo, who went on to lead Portugal to the European Championship a few weeks later, said he has no desire to leave the Bernabeu.


"I've won the Champions League and the Euros, it's a beautiful moment in my career and my sporting life," he said at the AC Hotel La Finca in Madrid. "It just makes me want to keep working hard for this club.

"It's my dream to keep playing for Real Madrid and I really want to stay here for many years because the club holds a special place in my heart."

Ronaldo's 51 goals in all competitions last season took him past Raul as Real Madrid's all-time top scorer, a feat he claimed even he did not believe he could accomplish.

"I never expected to reach these numbers," Ronaldo said. "I knew that Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world, but I didn't expect to beat the numbers of [Alfredo] Di Stefano and Raul."

The award was voted on by readers of Marca and La Gazzetta dello Sport in a series of polls throughout the Champions League.

source: espn fc