Rio Ferdinand is confident Cristiano Ronaldo will still be a Manchester United player next season despite the continuing speculation surrounding the Portugal winger's future.

Ronaldo was recently reported as saying he would like to join Real Madrid after several weeks of hearing the Spanish club openly covet the Portugal winger in the press.

However, speaking on a charity visit to Nigeria, Ferdinand said: "I don't think Manchester United are noted as a selling club. I saw an interview with the manager the other day and I think we only really sell players that we want to sell and I wouldn't put Ronnie in that category. At the end of the day he is a Man United player and long may that continue."

The England defender admitted, though, that United would suffer badly if Ronaldo did leave. "I want him to be my team-mate because he is a fantastic footballer and that means we are going to be that bit more successful if we have got him in our ranks," he said. "I would love him to stay but I am not the man who makes the decisions at the club.

"We are just like the fans really, we read the papers and listen to the TV and we'll watch this space but I'm sure he will be a Man United player next season."

Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, was so angered by what he considered to be attempts by Real to unsetttle the winger that he has threatened to demote the player to the sidelines rather than allow him to join the Spanish champions.