Almost every football fan around the world has been set abuzz by recent reports that Real Madrid superstar and Portugal international Cristiano Ronaldo is set to leave the Spanish capital, with as much as three top clubs across Europe considered as favourites to be his next destination.
According to insiders, three giant European clubs are mooted to be in the race to sign the 32-year-old super striker. Former club Manchester United are, of course, the heavy favourites to re-sign their star, while Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich with their very deep coffers not far behind.
The latest update in the saga is that the future hall of famer has told his agent Jorge Mendes that he wants to leave Madrid and is keen to return to Old Trafford. Manchester United, for their part, would be capable of paying Ronaldo’s market value, as the explosive forward is currently rated at upwards of £90-million.
Of course, it is certainly a tantalising prospect to see the former Red Devils o make the move away from Real Madrid back to Manchester United, or to any club for that matter after eight seasons and 11 titles, including three Champions League wins at the Santiago Bernabeu. But is that prospect really feasible?
If Bayern are to be asked, the rumours are merely hot air.
“We are accustomed to speculating intensively on possible inflows and outflows during the transfer period,” said Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
“As a rule, we do not comment on these rumours. But now, in the case of Cristiano Ronaldo, we want to clarify once and for all that this rumour has no basis and must be referred to the realm of the fable,” the Bayern official added.
Story Borne Out of Slow News Day
The selling of one of the greatest players to play the game, in truth, is highly unlikely. Indeed, the Portuguese winger is already 32 years old and there is no chance any club would spend 9-digit sums to acquire such a player with two years of peak play left and no reselling value whatsoever. Even Manchester United bargained hard with Arsenal when they purchased Robin van Persie nearly half a decade ago, acquiring the striker at way less than the £30-million Gunners boss Arsene Wenger wanted for the Dutch striker.
Not even big money spenders Paris Saint Germain are ready to pull off such a risky move, regardless of the prospected media coverage and shirt or merchandise sales boost.
With Florentino Perez winning re-election as Madrid supremo and Ronaldo having just signed a new deal late last year, his departure from the Bernabeu in the near future is nothing more than fantasy.
This story, most likely, came from someone who thought he could spice up a slow news day.