Manchester United yesterday, officially announced the termination of their contract with five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo after days of cloudy uncertainty following the striker’s controversial interview with UK broadcaster, Piers Morgan.
The statement reads:
“Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect,” said a United statement.
“The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances and wishes him and his family well for the future.
“Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team’s progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch.”
This was immediately followed by a statement from the Portuguese captain himself on his social media pages:
“Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early.
“I love Manchester United and I love the fans, that will never ever change. However, it feels like the right time for me to seek a new challenge.
“I wish the team every success for the remainder of the season and for the future.”
Following this development, football pundits have been throwing permutations around over the possible next destination for the world-record goal scorer.
The owner of Chelsea FC, Todd Boehly is a well-documented fan of Cristiano and was reported to have held a meeting with his agent, Jorge Mendes in the last summer. It is unclear if Chelsea’s current manager, Graham Potter would favour a move for Ronaldo, but if Boehly has his way, who cares?
A transfer to the blue side of London might stun the football world, but it is not impossible.
Sporting Lisbon in his home country, Portugal was the place where it all began for Cristiano. It would most likely be another red-carpet homecoming for Ronaldo if he chooses to go back to his roots. However, his vocal desire to feature in a top club fighting in the UEFA champions league may have scored the Portuguese club out of the race for his signature.
Manager Ruben Amorim had said in October, Ronaldo is a top player, a Manchester United player. I’m going to respond the same way as a lot of journalists in Portugal ask me that question a lot. He is a Manchester United player. Everybody in Sporting dreams of the return for Cristiano, but we don’t have the money to pay his wages”.
Now that Ronaldo has cut ties with the Red Devils, is Hollywood u-turn to his home country, with a pay cut.
If money is what Ronaldo is looking for to pen his signature, Inter Miami have not hidden its interest to splash huge amounts on the former Real Madrid and even Lionel Messi in one breath.
Owned by English football icon and former Real Madrid star, David Beckham, Inter Miami would provide glitz and glamour for the 37-year-old, but is he willing to throw Champions League ambition into the bin?
Paris Saint-Germain? Having conquered the English Premier League, La Liga, and Serie-A, a challenge in the French Ligue-1 looks like an enticing adventure Ronaldo might want to take.
PSG who clearly have the cash to splash also provides Ronaldo the opportunity to compete on the highest stage in one of the most popular clubs in Europe, alongside fellow superstars, Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe. A partnership between arguably the two Greatest Of All Time to have played the round leather game would take the world by storm, but it would be an attraction and something beyond imagination, a dream if you like.
Real Madrid have also been predicted as a possible destination for the Portuguese living legend. The La Liga giants will be without their main striker, Benzema whom they lost to injury when the season resumes.
A reunion with their former striker would not be a bad idea.
