Hounded by tax troubles in Spain, soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly seeking his out of the legal mess and option on the table is a Bernabeu exit. Speculations are rife Ronaldo is all set to depart from Real Madrid and possibly take on the route that will lead him back to Manchester United.
In a report, the Daily Mirror said the Portuguese has reached to former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and expressed his intention of a return to England. "The former Old Trafford star confided in his former United boss that he was unsettled at the Bernabeu weeks before the tax allegations became public," the report said.
Ronaldo is facing a $16.5 million tax fraud case in Spain and is adamant of his innocence. "My conscience is quite clear," the superstar was reported by The Washington Post as saying. It was suggested likewise that the Portuguese footballer felt unsupported by his club and unloved by Spanish fans.
"Ronaldo indicated to the Scot (Ferguson) that he felt unloved at Real Madrid and let down by some of the fans who had at times booed him despite his amazing goal-scoring feats for the Spanish giants," the Mirror reported.
Citing local reports from Portugal and Spain, Deadspin.com has affirmed that Ronaldo is "deeply disillusioned," and felt "a victim of persecution." The same report claimed that while Real Madrid issued a statement that declared the player's innocence, Ronaldo got the feeling the Madrid management is not fully supportive.
"We're to believe, Ronaldo wants out," the report said.
And it seemed natural Ronaldo will want to play again for the Manchester United. The Mirror said in all likelihood Ferguson will approve of Ronaldo's return to the English club and the former club boss can make it happen. "Ferguson ... still has influence within the Old Trafford corridors," the report said.
If indeed Ronaldo, dubbed as the greatest soccer player of all time, is exiting Bernabeu soon United will be among the favored to acquire his services. The other one is French-based Paris Saint-Germain. The Mirror said the club "have indicated they will pay whatever it costs to bring the Portuguese international to France."
And that would be in the neighborhood of $450 million to cover for the transfer fee that Real Madrid is expected to demand and Ronaldo's pay check. Apart from the English and French clubs, the 32-year-old football megastar could also ink a deal with professional team from China that is more than willing to spend half-a-billion dollars to acquire the Ronaldo brand, The Washington Post reported.
However, with a better appreciation of the bigger picture it would seem "either club would be crazy to shell out the record-shattering transfer fee it would cost for a player as old as he is," Deadspin said on its report.
On the part of Real Madrid, letting go of Ronaldo is not also very appealing when reality is all considered. "Real need what Ronaldo already offers the club which in real and intangible ways cannot be replicated by anyone else in the game," the report said.
In the end, Ronaldo and Madrid would iron out their differences. "This standoff probably ends in a new contract that pleases both the club and the player. Ronaldo would get more money, probably the final big payday of his career," the Deadspin report said.
