Real Madrid fans may push club to sell Cristiano Ronaldo
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague believes Florentino Perez will seek the advice of Real Madrid supporters this season and perhaps look to sell Cristiano Ronaldo next summer, as per Sky Sports.
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague believes Florentino Perez will seek the advice of Real Madrid supporters this season and perhaps look to sell Cristiano Ronaldo next summer, as per Sky Sports.
The 30-year-old has had a turbulent campaign so far for Los Blancos and his form has taken a big hit this season under Rafa Benitez.
Ronaldo has still managed to score eight goals in 12 La Liga games this season, but there are suggestions that his relationship with manager Benitez is continuing to sour.
The Portugal international delivered another below-par performance in the El Clasico over the weekend, which saw his side dismantled at home during a 4-0 defeat to Barcelona.
With suggestions that the likes of Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are keen, Balague feels Perez could listen to the fans over the coming weeks and months – a strategy to eventually sell the forward.
Balague said: "With the case of Cristiano, we have said many times there is a strategy for him to go to another club next season."
"Very cleverly, Real Madrid are trying to make it look like he wants to go, and that he deserves to go.
“And what Florentino is going to do now is listen to fans. So he likes to do polls with fans, he is going to meet them in little groups, in big groups, and he wants to gather the opinion of fans."
"Why? Because he wants them to say what they are going to say now, which is: ‘Get rid of Cristiano and get rid of Rafa."
"Perhaps names will be mentioned of future players, and make a list of the best players in the world and they will be linked to Real Madrid in the next few months – Sergio Aguero, Eden Hazard – because they are going to be looking for the next big thing now."
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal offhandedly confirmed his interest in Ronaldo last week, as per BBC Sport, which fuelled speculation of a potentially emotional return to England.
However, Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes insisted earlier this week that the forward would not be going anywhere anytime soon, as per Canal Football Club.
Real Madrid face Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk later tonight in matchday five of the Champions League.