Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo has been linked with a return to Old Trafford Getty

Cristiano Ronaldo has refused to confirm whether he will stay at Real Madrid until the end of his career amid recent speculation he may return to Manchester United to hang up his boots at Old Trafford.

The 29-year-old Portugal captain decided to commit his future to the Santiago Bernabeu last year by signing a lucrative deal with Los Blancos until 2018.

But even though Ronaldo is enjoying one of the best season in his career at Real Madrid, earlier in the campaign some reports claimed he was likely to return to United – while manager Louis van Gaal publicly opened him the doors of Old Trafford.

Ronaldo has now suggested he has no intention of leaving Real Madrid in the short-term but refused to commit his long-term future to the club.

When asked whether he will retire at the Bernabeu, Ronaldo said: "I am very happy and in a moment of great form and in my personal life as well."

"For that reason I try to do my best on the pitch and win, which is what I enjoy the most," he said, according to AS.

"I want to see out my contract at Real Madrid when I'll be 33 and then we'll see if the president wants me for a few more years."

The Portuguese star picked up the Golden Shoe award on Wednesday 5 Novemeber, which he shares with former Liverpool star Luis Suárez after they scored 31 league goals during the 2013/14 campaign.

Asked whether he can become football's best player in the history of the game, ahead of the likes of Pele and Maradona, he said: "I don't want to think about that yet.

"Obviously everybody has their own opinion but I want to be the best of all time and I will try and make that happen. Everybody has their opinion but in my head I want to be the best and I'll get there. I'm writing my own history step by step. When I retire I want to see if I'm among the best of all time and I'm certain I will be."

Meanwhile, when questioned if he would be surprised if he does not win the Ballon d'Or following an excellent campaign, he said: "Nothing surprises me.

"Over the last six, seven or eight years nothing has surprised me. You have to be ready for any scenario. I am very happy and so I'm not going to a hypocrite: I'd like to win a third Ballon d'Or but I'm not obsessed with it. There is plenty of time left and I'm doing things well."