This is a very interesting one. Although some sources claim today that Cristiano Ronaldo has pledged his future to Real Madrid and new boss Rafa Benitez, there has also been a swell of hype which suggests that the club are prepared to cash in on the 30 year old whose contract expires in 2018. Highly respected British media outlet, The Telegraph, asserts that Los Blancos are indeed ready to cash in:
Cristiano Ronaldo’s 87m move depends on Zlatan Ibrahimovic and FFP
French club want Ronaldo and Real Madrid would sell – but Ibrahimovic and UEFA rules are barriers.
SIGN THIS MAN
The big question is, should Manchester United have a punt? Unless CR7 is just paying lip service to the fans, he loves Manchester United and they would surely be his preferred choice to PSG.
But £87m for a player who will be 31 in February. Is it worth it?
Well, with him on one flank and Memphis on the other (plus a couple of other additions), you would imagine that Manchester United would have a solid chance to get to the latter stages of The Champions League and win the title next season. This alone would pay back a huge chunk of the fee, in TV rights and prize money.
Then you look at Ronaldo, the marketing man’s dream – handsome, chiselled, virile, a superb athlete who looks great in a pair of designer pants – and that would provide another major revenue stream.
Manchester United may wish to quit while they are ahead with Ronaldo. They made a fortune from him first time around and probably wouldn’t get any sell on fee.
But look at it this way. They paid £12.8m to sign him in 2003 and sold him for £80m in 2009. So, for a net fee of around £20m (at a reported cost of £87m) they could have a second stint with one of the greatest players ever and who could pretty much guarantee success.
Surely it’s a no-brainer? And what a homecoming that would be.
