London: Spanish giants Real Madrid's superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo has said he wants to end his career "with dignity" in a top club and not in relatively obscure but cash-rich football destinations like "the United States, Qatar or Dubai".
Portugal's national team skipper said he expected to play six or seven more seasons and hoped to finish his career at the highest level in a major European football club.
The remarks apparently referenced the recent wave of top players who have finished their careers outside of Europe's top leagues, among them Major League Soccer (MLS) imports Didier Drogba, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo and David Villa, along with Spanish great Xavi Hernandez who signed with Qatari club Al Sadd in May.
"That does not mean it's bad play in the leagues of the United States, Qatar or Dubai, but I do not see myself there," Ronaldo was quoted as saying in ITV's The Jonathan Ross Show on Friday.
Ronaldo, who turns 31 in February, became Real Madrid's all-time leading goalscorer (324 goals) last month and has thrice won the World Footballer of The Year Award.
