Could it really happen?
With signs pointing towards Cristiano Ronaldo pushing his way through the exit door at Real Madrid this summer, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has been quick to shove his way to the front of the queue for his signature.
Following yesterday’s win at Watford, which briefly sent the Red Devils to the top of the Premier League, Van Gaal was asked about the former United star and told the press:
“We are looking at all players, not just Ronaldo. But these players are mostly ungettable.
“With Ronaldo, let’s wait and hope. There is no trainer in the world that doesn’t like him.”
Those remarks have sparked the UK media into action, with three of today’s back pages leading with potential United moves for the Portuguese legend.
The Mail on Sunday reckons £6omillion will be enough to prise Ronaldo away from Real Madrid, where he has failed to develop an understanding with new boss Rafa Benitez, with a £250,000 weekly wage also on offer from United.
United attempted to sign Gareth Bale last summer but with Benitez preferring to hang on to the younger man, Ronaldo could be let go and the Express say yesterday’s comments make it clear that Van Gaal, who wants to add more pace and width to his attacking options, will push his way to the front of the queue for the reigning Ballon d’Or, who is also on the radar of big-spending French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
The Sun claim that Real will sell if they can recoup the £80million they paid United back in 2009, although shifts in exchange rates mean that €94million fee would be closer to £65million than £80million.
Nonetheless, it is still a hefty fee for a player who will be 31 in February, especially with the Sun suggesting United will need to put together a salary package of around £500,000 a week, but Ronaldo has shown no signs of slowing down this year, despite his disappointments with Benitez, having scored eight times in 12 La Liga games this season.
