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Forever Manchester United, says Nistelrooy
May 26, 2004 17:28 IST
Last Updated: May 26, 2004 18:47 IST
Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy wants to end his career at Manchester United and then walk away from soccer.
"When I stop playing, I will quit the game for good and never come back into football. I will finish my career in Manchester," van Nistelrooy told The Sun newspaper.
"I'm now sentenced for life with United, but that is not a punishment. The manager is building a new team and I trust him," said the Dutchman, who recently signed a new contract with United until 2008.
"I don't need to go to Spain or another country."
Van Nistelrooy has been linked with Real Madrid in recent weeks after a disappointing season for both himself and United ended on a good note with two goals in his side's FA Cup final victory over Millwall.
The 27-year-old van Nistelrooy, had previously said he would like to end his career with his former club PSV Eindhoven.
"I used to think that after my time at Manchester United I'd have a couple more years back home in Holland with PSV Eindhoven again. But I don't think like that any more," he said.
"When I stop playing, I will quit the game for good and never come back into football. I never want to be a manager," said van Nistelrooy.
"When I signed my new contract recently, I didn't only sign for the money. I had a long talk with (United manager) Alex Ferguson where he explained his future plans.
"His ambition is to win the Champions League again and I'm very proud that I can work on that with him. I agreed with his vision. It was very simple then to sign my new contract the next day."
United, Champions League winners in 1999 and semi-finalists for eight successive seasons, were eliminated by Porto in the quarter-finals in March.