What next for Ronaldo after explosive interview?
LONDON. - Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive interview with Piers Morgan, in which he is deeply critical about Manchester United, likely spells the end of the forward’s time at the club. But where could the Portugal star move next?
Ronaldo said he feels “betrayed” by Man Utd, admitted he does not respect manager Erik ten Hag and claimed the club were trying to force him out in an explosive interview on TalkTV show ‘Piers Morgan Uncensored’.
The 37-year-old, who re-joined the Premier League club in the summer of 2021, has been short of goals and game time in recent months while he has had a spate of off-the-field issues this term.
In August Ronaldo said he would give his full perspective on life at Old Trafford after failing to secure a move to a Champions League club, as he had hoped.
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich were linked with a summer transfer for Ronaldo after selling Robert Lewandoski, however, they ultimately decided against the move. Instead, they began the season with wide-man Sadio Mane playing through the middle. However, El Nacional claims the Bundesliga club regret passing up the chance to sign the 37-year-old in the summer and could make a bid for him in January.
Borussia Dortmund
Another Bundesliga club that could be interested in signing the Portugal star are Borussia Dortmund.
The club sold Erling Haaland to Manchester City in the summer and replaced him with Karim Adeyemi and Sebastien Haller. However, Adeyemi is still yet to score in the Bundesliga while Haller was diagnosed with a testicular tumour in pre-season.
Nevertheless, the club’s CEO Hans Joachim Watze said in August: “I love this player, it’s certainly a charming idea to see Cristiano Ronaldo play at Signal Iduna Park.” Napoli are Europe’s most in-form side and currently sit eight points clear at the top of Serie A, having lost just once in all competitions.
A return to Italy, where Ronaldo scored 81 goals in 98 league appearances and won Serie A Player of the Year award in both 2019 and 2020, could help Gli Azzurri over the line as they look to secure their first Serie A since 1990. Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes has a good relationship with Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis and allegedly proposed a move for his client to join Napoli in the summer.
Sporting Lisbon
Ronaldo could make another return to one of his former clubs in January. The Portuguese star came through the academy at Sporting Lisbon at scored five goals in 31 first-team appearances for the club before signing for Man Utd as an 18-year-old.
The forward’s mum has made no secret of her desire for her son to return to the Portuguese side.
Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal are the only club to have made a formal approach for Ronaldo during the summer transfer window. The Saudi Arabian side were thought to be willing to pay Man Utd a £25m transfer fee, and offer the 37-year-old a bumper two-year contract worth £2million-a-week.
MLS
If Europe’s top clubs turn Ronaldo down again, a move to Major League Soccer could appeal.
David Beckham’s Inter Miami, managed by Ronaldo’s former United teammate Phil Neville, are interested in Ronaldo upon Gonzalo Higuain’s retirement, according to the LA Times.