European Football

MADRID, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster was keen to play down the significance of Cristiano Ronaldo's decision to stay at Manchester United for next season.

The Portugal winger ended weeks of speculation over a possible move to the Spanish champions saying that he was fully committed to United in a interview with a Portuguese newspaper published on Thursday.

"It was up to him to decide what he wanted although it's a shame he isn't joining us," Schuster told a news conference in Bogota where the team are set to play a pre-season friendly.

"But not to worry, because our team is strong enough to achieve all the objectives we have set. In three months when Sneijder returns it will be like another great signing. We have to remain calm."

Dutch midfielder Sneijder damaged knee ligaments in the 1-0 friendly defeat against Arsenal in London on Sunday.

Real had set their stall out to land Ronaldo after the 23-year-old hinted he wanted to move to Spain following United's Champions League final victory over Chelsea in May.

But with little sign of movement from either Ronaldo or United, Real landed Netherlands midfielder Rafael van der Vaart at the beginning of the week and president Ramon Calderon said the Dutchman was likely to be their only new signing.

Real play Independiente Santa Fe in a friendly on Thursday and return to Madrid from Colombia straight after to continue with their pre-season preparations.