Real Madrid president Florentino Perez confessed that Cristiano Ronaldo is “angry” but he still expects the prolific forward to honour his contract at the club.
It’s been widely reported that Ronaldo is upset over treatment he received from Spanish authorities following accusations of tax fraud and Perez has now confirmed the player’s emotions.
“He’s angry, that’s for sure, because he is an honest person who fulfils his obligations,” Perez said, speaking to esRadio’s El Primer Palo.
As a result, Ronaldo has been heavily linked with a sensational return to former club Manchester United. Perez, however, revealed that he will have a conversation with the Portugal star upon his return from international duty at the Confederations Cup.
“He has a contract with Real Madrid and, when he stops playing at the Confederations Cup, we will talk,” Perez said.
“I have not talked to him but we are delighted that he is in Madrid. I think he will continue in Madrid.”
Despite Perez’s confidence that Ronaldo will stay, his future will continue to be hotly debated until he pledges his allegiance to last season’s Champions League winners. The 32-year-old is under contract until 2021 and, with a reported £1bn buy-out clause, his potential suitors may be limited.
Other options
A return to Old Trafford would be the romantic’s choice. Ronaldo is still adored by United fans today and would no doubt be welcomed with the same open arms that took him in as teenager back in 2003. There are questions as to where United’s goals will come from next season after the club opted not to renew Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s contract and Ronaldo more than fits that profile.
Paris Saint-Germain are one of the few clubs who could afford to buy him, and showed signs of struggling to replace Ibrahimovic when they surrendered their league title to Monaco last season. The main question is as to whether he would want to play in Ligue 1 having enjoyed so many tough contests for league titles in his career.
Chinese clubs have the financial prowess to offer Ronaldo any wage imaginable but the Portugal captain has made it clear in the past his intentions to continue at the highest level for many more years. And with 100% tax now imposed on foreign transfers to China, could that scupper a potential move? A move to MLS and a “Hollywood” lifestyle could happen at some point in the future, but it would be unlikely for him to move to America immediately after winning the Champions League.
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