Could Cristiano Ronaldo be set for a 22/1 homecoming this summer?
Content Editor at Free Super Tips, Alex was born in the shadow of Old Trafford and is an avid Man Utd fan. After graduating from university he combined his love of football, writing and betting to join FST and now closely follows goings-on in all of the top European leagues.
A late summer whirlwind saw Cristiano Ronaldo return to the Premier League in dramatic fashion last year and now the Manchester United forward looks set to leave the club in just as unexpected a fashion.
The 37-year-old has told Manchester United he wants to leave if a suitable offer comes in for him, citing a lack of trophy potential and no Champions League football as the main reasons, before failing to turn up for the start of pre-season training due to family reasons.
Ronaldo was Manchester United’s top scorer last season with 24 goals in all competitions but many fans have claimed he is one of the many reasons the Red Devils were so disappointing last season.
The club are believed to want to keep Ronaldo but, with player leverage notoriously powerful in these situations, it’s very possible the Portugal captain could be on the move in the near future. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of his potential destinations:
Chelsea – 5/2
Chelsea have a gap to fill up front following the departure of Romelu Lukaku and new owner Todd Boehly is keen to put his stamp on the Blues.
Ronaldo would bring the star quality Boehly is looking for, but there are some reasons this deal might not suit. For one, Manchester United are unlikely to want to sell to a Premier League rival, and there’s also the question of how well (or poorly) Ronaldo would fit Thomas Tuchel’s system.
Bayern Munich – 4/1
Robert Lewandowski is clamouring for a move to Barcelona and what better way to fill a goalscoring void than by bringing in the greatest goalscorer in history?
That being said, Bayern Munich rarely sign ageing players and they just brought in Sadio Mane. It’s a deal that would be extremely attractive for Ronaldo, but I don’t see the Bavarian club being that interested.
Barcelona – 7/1
What a statement this would be, from both Barcelona and Ronaldo.
Ronaldo moving to Barcelona would whip up an absolute storm in Spain, with sections of both Barca and Real Madrid fans likely to be furious with the transfer.
But I wouldn’t rule it out. Barcelona have a history of, shall we say, ill-considered transfer dealings and Ronaldo is never far from controversy.
Real Madrid – 12/1
On the other hand, could a return to the reigning champions of Europe be on the cards?
Karim Benzema has stepped up his game since Ronaldo left and it is clear Los Blancos don’t need Ronaldo, but his transfer fee would be relatively small and it would fulfil Ronaldo’s desire to haul more silverware to his heavily-laden trophy cabinet.
PSG – 14/1
This looks like a deal that could suit all parties.
Uniting Ronaldo and Lionel Messi on the same team would be a huge statement from PSG and the oil-rich Parisiens absolutely love a big-name signing.
At least some silverware is almost guaranteed for Ronaldo with the ever-alluring prospect of Champions League contention also in the mix. Not to mention he would likely be challenging for the Golden Boot in yet another top European league.
Sporting Lisbon – 22/1
This would be the fairy-tale outcome, but it is unlikely to happen.
Yes, Sporting Lisbon are Ronaldo’s boyhood club, they are in the Champions League and they could challenge for domestic honours.
However, on the other hand, Sporting simply do not have the financial pulling power to pay Ronaldo’s hefty wages, even if he takes a big pay cut, and their Champions League prospects are rather limited.
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