What will be the next step for Cristiano Ronaldo? This is the question being asked in Italy, France, England, and even the United States, while speculation continues to lurk around the Juventus striker and his future in club football.
Earlier this month, newspaper reports from Italy suggested that the Vecchia Signora, whose finances have been severely damaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to sell this summer to the Portuguese of 36 years, for a minimum price of £ 25 million; with the aim of detaching itself from Cristiano’s annual salary commitment, which is around £ 28 million. However, information like this is nothing new: the big rumor in the football world since the beginning of the season has been that Ronaldo is available for the right price.
The elimination of Juve in the round of 16 of the Champions League at the hands of Porto represented another blow to the money printing machine of Juve and after signing Cristiano in 2018, from Real Madrid , as the final piece of the club’s plans to win this competition, the failures experienced so far to lift the most important trophy in club football has led to the possibility of selling it after the conclusion of the current campaign.
Despite his age, Cristiano continues to score at an incredible pace. His “hat trick” in the weekend’s match against Cagliari raised his production in the current tournament, reaching 30 goals in 33 games wearing the Juve shirt. Additionally, the feat led him to add 770 goals for life, beating by three goals in the record of the legendary Pelé (767). Despite being 36 years old and earning a substantial salary, it can be argued that Ronaldo continues to represent a good value for money thanks to his goal-scoring production; so he will not miss opportunities this summer. But what are these possible options?
ESPN has analyzed the attempted operations that could be presented to the five-time winner of the Golden Ball:
In 2018, Cristiano left the Santiago Bernabeu stadium as the owner of the title of top scorer in Real Madrid, with 450 goals in 438 appearances. When Madrid DT Zinedine Zidane was asked if he would be happy to regain Ronaldo’s services, the Frenchman responded by stating that he was a “magnificent” player.
From a sporting point of view, Madrid has not been able to compensate for the absence of Ronaldo’s goal-scoring production since his club departure. Eden Hazard has faced difficulties to cause some repercussions, and there is no doubt that Zidane’s squad could benefit from the many that Cristiano could contribute, even with 36 years on. However, Madrid are also desperately trying to reduce their payroll, dismissing players in their thirties with onerous salaries, such as Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric. He still has one year left on his contract with Bale, currently on loan at Tottenham, on a £ 600,000 a week salary.
Freeing up financial space to sign Cristiano would make little sense; although with the attempted departure of Lionel Messi from Barcelona, the idea of bringing back his former superstar at a time when Barça are losing the best footballer in their history, would have an obvious appeal to the White House .
Madrid could justify the operation, both in sports and commercial. It may not make economic sense; but meringues always seem to get money when you need it, which means we can’t rule out a return of CR7 to the Bernabeu.
It has been 12 years since Cristiano left Old Trafford for Real Madrid, through a transfer of 80 million pounds and which at the time set a world record. However, United have tried to get him back on numerous occasions since then. Some hints have been more serious than others, especially in 2013 and 2014; however, the stars never managed to line up at all, and his move to Juventus three years ago seemed to put an end to any possibility of a return to the Red Devils.
Still, United are a club that requires signing a center-forward this summer and, if attempts to hire young Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland fail, Cristiano would be a persuasive alternative.
On the court, Ronaldo continues to make great contributions to the cause of Juventus; therefore, United could aspire to get at least a good season from their former player, and the price of the pass, at £ 25 million, would be relatively affordable. Cristiano’s salary would be onerous, but United would take advantage of his return to the top from a marketing standpoint.
Faced with uncertainty about the future of Paul Pogba, United could take Ronaldo as part of any operation aimed at the return of the Frenchman to Juventus, making sure to exchange one big figure for another. Similarly, if Messi is signed by Manchester City, an attempted return of Ronaldo to United could be impossible to resist, given the possibility of writing the final chapter of his rivalry with the Argentine playing in the Premier League.
In short: do not rule out a possible return to the Red Devils, especially if the Glazer family, owner of United, believes that Cristiano has the same profile as Tom Brady, the game in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers helped the NFL franchise , also owned by the Glazers, to win the Super Bowl this year.
Whenever a star footballer becomes available, PSG always gets into the fight, and Ronaldo’s case will be no different. However, the situation in the French capital is fluid at the moment.
If the current French champions are able to retain the services of Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, the chances of trying to sign Cristiano would be slim. Thanks to the repercussions of the pandemic on the financier, the trio of potential suitors of Neymar and Mbappé has been drastically reduced; and there is likely to be no market interested in any of them. Barça want to get Neymar back, while Madrid are looking for Mbappé, but it is doubtful that any of them will be able to obtain the necessary resources to carry out an operation of such magnitude.
However, PSG are also interested in signing Cristiano, just as he seeks to snatch Messi’s services from Barcelona. If Neymar and Mbappé become persuaded to move to Parc des Princes, PSG could even try to form a Messi-Cristiano duo as the centerpiece of a dream squad in the City of Light. However, at the moment PSG have too many conditions in mind to be considered a viable option for Cristiano. They are still there, behind the scenes; but many things have to happen first for Ronaldo to end up playing in Paris.
Several sources have told ESPN that Cristiano is drawing attention to an attempted move to the United States, albeit as the likely final destination of his 20-year career in football. However, if Ronaldo manages to give any indication of openness to the possibility of leaving this summer for MLS, Inter Miami would automatically jump to head the line of stakeholders, due to the ambition of the group of team owners, which includes former United and Real Madrid star David Beckham.
Current Inter Miami DT Phil Neville played for a young Christian at Old Trafford and he, along with Beckham, would have a personal connection to Cristiano that could help them finalize a deal. For their part, LA Galaxy and LAFC would also be interested in signing Ronaldo, given that these clubs could offer the attractive lifestyle of Los Angeles, but most MLS teams would have no chance of paying for the signing of Ronaldo. the 36-year-old gunner.
Location and weather will be key: Cristiano never got used to Manchester’s weather, so don’t expect to see him set off for Kansas or Minnesota.
CONTINUE WITH JUVENTUS
Cristiano has just one year left on his contract with Juventus; therefore, the reality for all parties involved is that he would only change teams if it suits him. While it is true that he has not won the Champions League with Juve, Ronaldo has won Serie A titles in his two full seasons wearing the Bianconera shirt, scoring 95 goals in 122 appearances. His move to Italy has been a success, and he doesn’t need to change teams for financial reasons, or go to a less demanding league for him.
However, coming to perceive that he is not wanted in Turin, the appeal of a return to Madrid or Manchester, where he would be idolized and well paid, could convince him to leave Juventus.
Currently, all letters are in favor of Cristiano. Both Madrid and United could get a way to sign, if he makes clear his willingness to return to one of these clubs, while his stay with Juventus would allow him to leave as a free agent in 2022.
If we continue in Italy, a game heading to MLS at the age of 37 would be a precise possibility; although if he decides to leave Juventus, the current Italian champions should first sell the idea to the Christian himself.
VERDICT
Last week, Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici expressed that the club has no plans to extend Cristiano’s contract in Turin, although he stopped before claiming that the departure of the Portuguese striker was a possibility . However, sources have told ESPN that Juve would be open to a sale of the player, with the intention of being able to rebuild the squad and relocate resources currently intended to pay his salary, which is why they would not discourage others clubs to submit bids for him.
Currently, both Madrid and United are the most likely destinations, although Ronaldo is not the priority for any of them. However, this is an operation that could materialize, as long as the player gives clear indications of his willingness to change teams.
In the current situation, PSG has too many issues to deal with, and it is also true that a period of 12 months seems too premature to pack in the MLS. Therefore, unless United or Madrid decide to make the leap and make a firm move this summer, the most likely destination for Cristiano is to spend another year wearing the Juventus shirt.
Do not rule out a possible move to United or Real Madrid. As a short-term solution and commercial and marketing project, regaining Ronaldo’s services makes sense for both clubs.