Ronaldo: I'll play my heart out

Cristiano Ronaldo insists he is not worried about a backlash from United supporters. But he admits he was "naive" to push for a world-record move to Real Madrid. Ronaldo, due to make his long-awaited return at the end of this month after making rapid progress following ankle surgery in the summer, revealed he wanted to join Real because he had won everything he could at Old Trafford following last year's European Cup triumph. "After we'd won the Champions League I felt that I'd help win everything there was to win," he said. "I felt maybe I needed a new challenge. Apart from the challenge, everyone realises that Spanish and Portuguese culture and lifestyle are more similar. I also have to recognise that my family would welcome the change. What I said publicly, which was maybe a little naive, I take total responsibility for. I'm 100 per cent professional and have always given my heart and soul to this club," he told Inside United magazine. "If one day I leave, I want to do it knowing I did everything I could to help the club win as much as possible."
David McDonnell, Daily Mirror