Gareth Bale has urged his Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo to remain at the Bernebeu following speculations of the Portuguese star leaving the Los Blancos to make a return to his former side Manchester United next summer.
Although Ronaldo has time and again dismissed rumours of a return to the Premier League to join Manchester United, the speculations have not died down, with the latest one linking the 29-year-old to Manchester City.
Ronaldo, who was transferred from Manchester United to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009, has been in excellent form for the La Liga giants, scoring 269 goals in 257 appearances in all competitions.
And the 29-year-old forward's abilities seems to be only getting better with age as the Portuguese recently equalled the record of Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano and former Athletic Bilbao striker Telmo Zarra by grabbing his 22nd La Liga hat-trick during the Los Blancos' 5-0 thumping of Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
And Bale, who is a big admirer of Ronaldo, insists that he does not want the Portuguese to leave.
"Obviously he's a player we wouldn't want to see leave. Of course [I] want to see him stay at Real Madrid," Bale told ESPN. "He's shown what a world-class player he is year after year scoring the goals.
Meanwhile, Spanish football expert Guillem Balague feels that Real Madrid are not going to let go for Ronaldo even if Manchester United make a record-breaking offer or the Portuguese himself hands in a transfer request.
"I know for a fact Real Madrid will not let Cristiano go this summer, no way," Balague told the Daily Star.
"It doesn't matter that Manchester United have the finances to get him, it doesn't matter that Cristiano is thinking of coming back – Real Madrid won't let him go."
However, if Real Madrid do sell Ronaldo in the future, United will have the first opportunity to re-sign him as there is reportedly a buy-back clause in the former Sporting winger's contract.
