Cristiano Ronaldo has refused to confirm that he will stay at Manchester United, despite Sir Alex Ferguson's claim that the Portugal winger would remain at Old Trafford.

Ferguson held talks with Ronaldo in Lisbon on Monday, and although he refused to disclose details of a meeting he described as “amicable” the United manager insisted that the player would stay. But Ronaldo, who is on holiday in America as he recovers from ankle surgery, claims he has still to make a firm decision on his future.

Some reports suggest Ferguson has ordered Ronaldo, who is only 12 months into a £120,000-a-week, five-year contract, to stay at the club and the player, who has made no secret of his desire to join Real Madrid, has even likened his situation at Old Trafford to that of a slave in a recent television interviews.

"I've had hundreds of questions about Manchester United and Real Madrid," he said. "What do you want me to say? That I'm going or I'm staying?

"I don't know about the future, only God knows it. I can't say any more.

"Great players are always hounded by great clubs. It's a normal situation. There are other great players who are in the market who are good and who other clubs want.

"I have always been hounded, not only this year. It's not strange for me, to see what happens."

His comments come after David Gill, United’s chief executive, called on Ronaldo to show some commitment and loyalty" by honouring the five-year deal he signed in 2007, adding the club would not be offering the player a pay rise.

"I want to be happy regardless of where I play," Ronaldo added. "I can be happy everywhere, if I am with people I like, if I am animated, motivated. Am I motivated to continue at United? I am always motivated.

"I am ambitious and I want to always improve. I don't know the future, but I will be motivated."

"I'm not anxious about the future, I'm feeling normal," Ronaldo said. "Normal is resting my head, my body, having a good recovery and the future belongs to God, not to me."