MANCHESTER, Aug 6: Cristiano Ronaldo is certain to play for Manchester United this season, according to manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ronaldo has been linked with a move to Real Madrid since the end of last season — when he scored 42 goals to lead United to the Champions League and Premier League titles — but Ferguson said on Tuesday that Madrid’s public courtship of the Portugal international was in vain.

“The matter is closed now,” Ferguson said. “He is a Manchester United player. He’ll be playing here next season.”

Madrid was rumoured to be offering a world-record transfer fee for the 23-year-old Ronaldo, but has now signed Netherlands playmaker Rafael van der Vaart, possibly signalling the end of its interest for now.

A Spanish newspaper reported on Tuesday that Ronaldo refused to return to England for talks with United’s Ferguson over his desire to join Real Madrid.

The 23-year-old Portuguese winger was scheduled to meet with Ferguson at Old Trafford later on Tuesday but has instead opted to stay in Portugal while his representatives talk to the English club, sports daily Marca reported.

It is the second time that the player, who had surgery on his ankle at the start of the month and then followed up with a fortnight break in Los Angeles, will miss a meeting with Manchester United officials, the paper added.

Real Madrid President Ramon Calderon stayed behind in London after the club’s pre-season tournament at the Emirates Stadium to continue negotiations with Manchester United over Ronaldo, Spanish sports daily AS reported.

“Obviously we want Ronaldo because of the quality which he has. But there is a contract problem which Manchester and the player have to resolve, not us,” Calderon said last week.

Ronaldo is under contract at Old Trafford until 2012. He signed a new five-year contract with Manchester in April 2007 after being linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.—Agencies