Cristiano situation puts two European clubs on red alert
Reports that the Portuguese player could leave Spain has sent Real Madrid into shock, but for other European clubs with cash to spend, it's a golden opportunity.
Just three days since A Bola sent shockwaves through madridísmo by declaring that Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Spain this summer, reports of at least two of Europe's top clubs are believed to be positioning themselves to put in offers for the player.
Cristiano has told his close friends and agent Jorge Mendes doesn't want to return to Spain or LaLiga because he feels he has been targetted and criminalised by the countries tax authorities. It has opened up an opportunity for few clubs who have the spending power to afford Cristiano's transfer fee and wages.
Europe's wealthiest clubs could afford Cristiano - reports
At the moment, only two clubs have the means to finance such an operation: Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain. United have 200 million euros set aside to reinforce the squad this summer and according to one newspaper, they would be prepared to fork out 210 million euros to bring Cristiano back to Old Trafford in a deal which would also include Ávaro Morata with David de Gea moving in the opposite direction.
Paris Saint-Germain made an approach earlier this month according to the Daily Mail, who report that on 3 June, Cristiano's agent Jorge Mendes and PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, met a few hours ahead of the Champions League final in the Hilton hotel in Cardiff to begin negotiations.
Some outlets claim that PSG will put in a 140 million euros for the unsettled Real Madrid player and offer him a salary of 30 million euros. The French club has been looking for a high-profile player since Zlatan Ibrahimovic departed to join United last year.
Bayern, a third option for Cristiano
The other possible destination for Cristiano is Bayern Munich according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. Meanwhile, in the back offices of the Bernabéu, officials feel that Cristiano will finally come to his senses and will be calmer once he has been able to rest after a hectic, non-stop season. Nor is it the first time Cristiano has voiced his unhappiness or threatened to leave - in 2012, he admitted that he was "feeling sad and the club knows why". That episode was resolved after a crisis meeting with the president; in September 2013 Cristiano signed a new contract, keeoping him at the Bernabéu until 2013 and seeing his pay packet raised to 21 million euros.
