The international break is usually a quiet period for news, but with no games to report on, the Madrid and Spanish newspapers have had plenty to talk about in regards to Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at the club.
Ronaldo spent most of the international break on a publicity tour for his just released documentary. Noticeably the premier of which was held on London and not Madrid, with nobody from the club there for the big event, A snub that will not have gone unnoticed by Ronaldo.
Ronaldo goes into the game against Barcelona having failed to score in 12 of the 18 games he has played for club and country this season but the seeds of separation have more to do with the player’s relationship with the club than his form.
The reigning Ball d’or winner is not happy in Madrid, especially with the style of play that the Whites are playing under Rafa Benitez.
AS is reporting that Ronaldo told Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez that the team wouldn’t win a single title while Benitez was coaching the side.
“With this manager we’ll win nothing”, Ronaldo is reported to have said.
Spanish newspaper El Confidential reports that the relationship between Pérez and Ronaldo is beyond repair. Pérez reportedly sees Ronaldo’s recent comments about leaving the club as “ungrateful” and is said to have said to one of the directors closest to him:
“If anyone pays his clause then we should just let him go”.
Considering that Ronaldo’c clause is €1b nobody is going to pay that for any player. But PSG, Chelsea or Manchester United might be interested in paying €150m (£105m) for the 30-year-old striker.
The big question his whether Ronaldo at 30, is worth that. Add in wages of around £20m a year for five years and you are making a £200m investment in a world class player, who everyone acknowledges is just starting to slip as age and injuries catch up with him.
Ronaldo keeps saying how much he enjoyed his time at Manchester United, but he won everything at Old Trafford and I don’t see why he should return. And if he enjoys United so much, then going to rivals Chelsea would seen a noon-starter.
And that leaves PSG, where Ibra is getting ready to leave at the end of the season, and the French champions Qatar owners, have seen several bids for the Portuguese star turned down by Madrid. I am not so sure of they will turn down the next offer, providing Ronaldo with the spotlight of a major European city, and a team that will contend for the Champions League.
