Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed suggestions that Manchester United are close to offering Cristiano Ronaldo a new contract, insisting that the European champions are "happy" with the remaining length of the player's current deal.

With Real Madrid expected to renew efforts to sign Ronaldo next year, it is likely that United will open talks over a new deal with the Portuguese at the end of the season.

At that stage, he will have three years left to run on his £120,000-a-week contract, but Ferguson admitted recently that the summer of 2009 will be a key stage in determining Ronaldo's long-term future.

I don't know what other clubs pay their players, but he (Ronaldo) is very well paid by us and quite rightly
Sir Alex Ferguson insists Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo are happy with the player's current contract.

Yet despite the player's agent, Jorge Mendes, being spotted at Old Trafford last week, Ferguson insists the 23-year-old's current deal does not require urgent renewal. "," said Ferguson.

"He deserves to be paid tremendous amounts. All the players that are well paid deserve it because they are great players. But at the moment, he has three-and-a-half years left on his contract and we are happy with that."

Mendes, who also looks after the affairs of Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho, manages four players at Old Trafford. And Ferguson claimed that his visit is just as likely to have concerned those players as much as Ronaldo.

"There is nothing I can tell you about that because I didn't even know Jorge was over," he explained. "He comes across quite a lot to see Anderson, Nani, Ronaldo and Manucho, to sort out a lot of things - maybe their living accommodation or commercial issues."