Van Nistelrooy: I want to stay at United

Ruud van Nistelrooy has reaffirmed his desire to stay at Manchester United.

The prolific Dutch striker, who returned to the United starting line-up against Charlton on Tuesday after four matches out with a knee injury, has been the subject of persistent speculation linking him with a summer move to either Barcelona or Real Madrid.

Rumours have continued to circulate even though van Nistelrooy only signed a new five-year contract with the Red Devils in January and has often spoken of his warmth for the club he has scored 106 goals for in less than three seasons.

United chief executive David Gill has already stated the £19m (€28.3m) signing from PSV Eindhoven is going nowhere and van Nistelrooy is equally happy to reveal he has no intention of leaving.

“I am very settled at Manchester United,” he told MUTV. “I want to stay - that is why I signed a new contract and committed myself to the club for another five years.

“We are building a new team, I want to be part of it and I think the fans know that.

“The rumours don’t hurt me or affect me. I am not flattered by them because they mean nothing to me.

“Everything has been said about the situation now. I don’t want to go anywhere.”

Van Nistelrooy’s words will be greeted with relief by the United support, who are hoping the popular striker can build on his fledgling forward partnership with Louis Saha.

Between them, the pair have scored eight goals in five games together, although van Nistelrooy is currently on a rare barren streak, having netted only twice in nine appearances.

Meanwhile, United also took the unusual step of rubbishing reports linking two of their players with summer moves away from Old Trafford.

Talk that Rio Ferdinand and Roy Keane might be in their final weeks as United players has been rising in recent times, even though both are still under contract and Keane’s advisor Michael Kennedy claimed earlier this week that his client would see out the remaining two years of his contract.

Ferdinand, currently serving an eight-month ban that will not see him return to action until September 20, has been linked with Chelsea, while Keane is rumoured to be a target of boyhood idols Celtic.

United make a point of not responding to speculation but on this occasion, they have come out into the open, labelling the claims as “nonsense”.

“The club has read today’s newspaper reports and it is absolute nonsense,” said a statement on their official website, www.manutd.com

“Manchester United continues to concentrate on finishing the league and preparing and looking forward to the FA Cup final.”