Cristiano Ronaldo insisted he is committed to the Real Madrid cause after admitting he was "a little sad" at the club.

Ronaldo created furore after telling reporters following Real's game against Granada, in which he scored two goals: "I didn't celebrate the goals because I'm a little sad.

"The people inside the club know why it is. I'm not going to say anything more."

Media outlets in Spain suggested Ronaldo was disappointed with the Madrid board about not being offered a new contract, while some suggested the prolific forward had lost support in the dressing room. Ronaldo was also reportedly disappointed at the lack of support received from the club after he lost the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award to Barcelona's Andres Iniesta.

Ronaldo, however, refuted the suggestions that the sadness was over money. "That I am feeling sad and have expressed this sadness has created a huge stir," Ronaldo wrote on the Wall of his Facebook page. "I am accused of wanting more money, but one day it will be shown that this is not the case.

"At this point, I just want to guarantee to the Real Madrid fans that my motivation, dedication, commitment and desire to win all competitions will not be affected.

"I have too much respect for myself and for Real Madrid to ever give less to the club than all I am capable of. Abrazos (hugs) to all madridistas."

Alvaro Arbeloa came out in support of his Real Madrid teammate, saying the club and the players needed to do everything in their power to help Ronaldo. "Everybody has the right to be sad, he's a person just like anyone else," Arbeloa is quoted as saying by Marca. "He doesn't have the same problems like most Spanish people do, but it's perfectly reasonable for him to be sad.

"Because it's Cristiano who has said it, it makes more of an impact, but we don't mind. We're going to help him because we care about him, he's our teammate. He hasn't seemed sad to me or else we would have asked him about it, it took us all by surprise.

"We mustn't blow it out of proportion, I haven't heard him talk about wanting more money or a contract extension. Maybe he just needs more affection from everybody, I don't know, and that's what we have to give him."

"I hope the fans haven't taken his words the wrong way. He knows that he's at the best team and hopefully he'll stay here until he retires. That's what the fans want, he's an incredible icon. We'll help him."

Arbeloa also rubbished suggestions that Ronaldo was only concerned about winning personal accolades. "Cristiano always wants to win every prize," he said. "This ambition has made him the best in the world, but Real Madrid is what's most important to him.

"I don't think that winning the Ballon d'Or is his main concern. We are a family, we have to help him. I don't think it's down to money."