Brazilian striker Ronaldo has pledged his future to Inter Milan and quashed rumours of a possible move to Manchester United.
The 25-year-old forward had been linked with an exchange deal that would see United's David Beckham going the other way, but Ronaldo said today: 'I will stay with Inter for life'.
Reports of a possible switch emerged in the Italian and English press after United conceded for the first time that they may have to put Beckham up for sale.
The admission came after it was discovered that Inter Milan had made an official enquiry and would meet the England captain's wage demand of £200,000-a-week to go to Italy.
Contract talks between United and Beckham have stalled after eight months and, while the club still hope he will sign a new deal, chief executive Peter Kenyon does not expect that to happen before the summer.
Kenyon said last night: 'I don't know what will happen, to be honest. But you do reach a point where you can't go any further. You conclude it one way or another and we both feel that is where we are getting to.'
Inter's interest surfaced after general manager Giuliano Terraneo made a secret visit to Manchester to sound out United and Beckham's agents.
Beckham's advisers said his wage demands were merely a starting point to negotiations and it is understood that, if he were to stay at Old Trafford, he would settle for less.
Kenyon fears that Beckham will come back from this summer's World Cup Finals with only a year left on his contract and six months away from a Bosman free transfer.
United have reportedly offered Beckham, whose current contract is worth around £28,000-a-week, a four-year deal worth £85,000-a-week. This falls short of his demands and it is believed he wants a staggering £100,000-a-week to stay at Old Trafford, including a special image rights clause.
While United may be unwilling to give Beckham what he wants, they are well aware that several foreign clubs would be prepared to offer him much more than United would and from January 1 next year would be free to begin talks with the 26-year-old.
United are also keen to tie captain Roy Keane to a new deal but Kenyon said: 'That is not something we have started to progress yet.'
The 25-year-old forward had been linked with an exchange deal that would see United's David Beckham going the other way, but Ronaldo said today: 'I will stay with Inter for life'.
Reports of a possible switch emerged in the Italian and English press after United conceded for the first time that they may have to put Beckham up for sale.
The admission came after it was discovered that Inter Milan had made an official enquiry and would meet the England captain's wage demand of £200,000-a-week to go to Italy.
Contract talks between United and Beckham have stalled after eight months and, while the club still hope he will sign a new deal, chief executive Peter Kenyon does not expect that to happen before the summer.
Kenyon said last night: 'I don't know what will happen, to be honest. But you do reach a point where you can't go any further. You conclude it one way or another and we both feel that is where we are getting to.'
Inter's interest surfaced after general manager Giuliano Terraneo made a secret visit to Manchester to sound out United and Beckham's agents.
Beckham's advisers said his wage demands were merely a starting point to negotiations and it is understood that, if he were to stay at Old Trafford, he would settle for less.
Kenyon fears that Beckham will come back from this summer's World Cup Finals with only a year left on his contract and six months away from a Bosman free transfer.
United have reportedly offered Beckham, whose current contract is worth around £28,000-a-week, a four-year deal worth £85,000-a-week. This falls short of his demands and it is believed he wants a staggering £100,000-a-week to stay at Old Trafford, including a special image rights clause.
While United may be unwilling to give Beckham what he wants, they are well aware that several foreign clubs would be prepared to offer him much more than United would and from January 1 next year would be free to begin talks with the 26-year-old.
United are also keen to tie captain Roy Keane to a new deal but Kenyon said: 'That is not something we have started to progress yet.'
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