Rio Ferdinand believes Cristiano Ronaldo will remain at Manchester United this summer regardless of whether or not the club secures Champions League football for next season.
The Portugal international — who has netted 18 goals in all competitions this term — returned to United last August in an effort to help bolster their Premier League title prospects. However, that title charged failed to materialise, with United's only hope of winning a trophy this season remaining in the form of the Champions League.
The club is set to be involved in a fierce battle to just finish in the top four, meaning the guarantee of competing in Europe's premier club competition next season is far from sealed. Ronaldo, of course, has thrived in the Champions League throughout his career, scoring a record-breaking 141 goals for United, Real Madrid and Juventus.
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And while the Champions League remains hugely important to Ronaldo, Ferdinand believes he will stay at United next season. However, he does believe failure to qualify will cause concern
Ferdinand told Vibe with Five : "Where are Manchester United going to be in the summer, in terms of the Champions League? No matter what age Cristiano is — and he is 37 — he wants to play Champions League football.
"He sees that competition as the Holy Grail. He owns that competition; he is the top goalscorer and has won it five times now.
"That is part of his every day make-up and every season that he plays he expects to be in it. So if they are not going to be in that, I do believe that there will probably be a sit down and a conversation about that [his future].
"Also, are there going to be other teams that are going to want him, and take him, in terms of the contract that comes with him? There are a lot of moving parts to it, but I believe he will still be there next season, no matter what happens at the end of the season and where United finish."
If Ronaldo was to leave Old Trafford this summer, only a handful of clubs would be able to afford him. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is on huge wages and not many European clubs would be able to meet his demands.
Paris Saint-Germain would be the likely destination. Ferdinand, however, believes the French giants could change their outlook on recruitment after recent failures in the Champions League.
He added: "I feel that Paris Saint-Germain would have maybe been a destination, but I just feel that the club may be shifting into a new direction with recruitment, which would not fit the usual 30-something player, who could be a big-name player like Ronaldo," Ferdinand added.
"If I am wrong, I'm wrong. But that is how I feel."
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