• Premier League

Ancelotti swerves Ronaldo to United talk

ESPN staff
June 27, 2013

New Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti says he cannot wait to guide Cristiano Ronaldo through next season, as speculation the forward will leave for Manchester United in the summer continues.

Ancelotti was unveiled to the Madrid press on Wednesday, but at the same time speculation was growing that United were ramping up their efforts to bring Ronaldo back to Old Trafford.

The Italian was asked his opinion on Ronaldo, who he can now add to the list of superstars he has managed in previous roles at the likes of Chelsea, Juventus, Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. Ancelotti was lavish in his praise, mentioning him in the same breath as Zinedine Zidane, but did not talk about the links with United.

"My opinion is easy. Ronaldo's a fantastic, marvellous player," Ancelotti explained.

"It's an honour to coach a player like Ronaldo like it was to coach Zidane.

"Ronaldo was not on the list of players like Brazilian Ronaldo, Zidane and Ronaldinho that I coached.

"He will be on the list of players I coached now and I am so happy for that."

Ronaldo's future at the club, though, was not discussed in detail, with Ancelotti opting not to speak of potential transfers in or out of the Bernabeu in his opening press conference.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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