vivaronaldo.com

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 41 goals for Manchester United this season and Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari wants Cristiano Ronaldo to replicate his brilliant club form after naming the winger in his Euro 2008 squad.

Ronaldo and Manchester United team-mate Nani were included in the 23-man party for the tournament, starting on 7 June.

“There is no doubt that Ronaldo is in great form but I cannot guarantee he will be in the same form as he’s been at Manchester United,” said Scolari.

Chelsea defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira are also in the squad.

The Stamford Bridge outfit’s new £16.2m signing, right-back Jose Bosingwa, will move to the Blues after his stint with Portugal in Austria and Switzerland.

With the Champions League final to contest on 21 May, the United and Chelsea players will join up with the squad after the game in Moscow.  Portugal will be strongest down the flanks - through Nani, Simao Sabrosa, and of course one Cristiano Ronaldo

There was no place in Scolari’s Euro 2008 group for Chelsea’s former on-loan midfielder Maniche, who now plays for Inter Milan. The 30-year-old’s omission was the only surprise in the squad announcement.

Portugal finished as runners-up to Greece on home soil in 2004 and Scolari, who won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil, is expecting another strong performance.

“The expectations are the same as in 2004,” added Scolari, who will step down as Portugal coach after the competition.

“We have great quality to clinch the qualification in the first phase. I have total belief in this squad.”

Portugal are in Group A with the Czech Republic, Turkey and co-hosts Switzerland.

Portugal Squad
Goalkeepers: Ricardo Pereira (Real Betis), Quim Silva (Benfica), Rui Patricio (Sporting)

Defenders: Miguel Monteiro (Valencia), Jose Bosingwa (Porto), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Fernando Meira (VfB Stuttgart), Bruno Alves (Porto), Pepe (Real Madrid), Jorge Ribeiro (Boavista)

Midfielders: Raul Meireles (Porto), Joao Moutinho (Sporting), Deco (Barcelona), Armando Petit (Benfica), Miguel Veloso (Sporting)

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Ricardo Quaresma (Porto), Nuno Gomes (Benfica), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Nani (Manchester United), Helder Postiga (Panathinaikos)
 

Cristiano Ronaldo has denied reports that he would consider a move to Real Madrid by insisting Manchester United is the perfect club for him. Real are keen to take Ronaldo to the Bernabeu stadium and reports this week claimed the Portugal winger would listen to an approach from the Spanish champions.

Bernd Schuster’s side are said to be considering a 100 million pounds (125 million euros) offer which would test United’s determination to keep English football’s two-time Player of the Year.

But Ronaldo insists he has no intention of leaving Old Trafford because he is in the right place to develop his prodigious talent.

I’m at the right club, playing with the right players and I learn things all the time,” Ronaldo told MUTV.

“That’s what great about being at United. I improve all the time and I want to improve every season. I think I’m a better player now than five years ago.

“This season has been a great one for me - I’ve scored a lot of goals, the team have played very well and we’re champions. It’s amazing.”

Ronaldo’s 41-goal haul has helped United retain the title and reach next week’s Champions League final and he admits the season has been beyond his wildest dreams.

It’s a great feeling to win the league - I don’t have the words to describe how it feels to be champions, it’s amazing,” he said.

“I didn’t think it would go to the final day of the season, but to be honest the feeling is better [to win on the last day].

“When the ref blew the final whistle it was brilliant. We’ve worked hard for nine months and I feel very proud to be champions.”