Cristiano Ronaldo is unhappy at Manchester United as the Portuguese superstar lacks Champions League prospects. That could offer the attacker Borussia Dortmund. A report sees BVB as the "last option" for Ronaldo.
Cristiano Ronaldo is perhaps the greatest footballer in history, at least the most popular. Success paves his way, nobody earned more money than the Portuguese. But the sporting present is dreary after many great years: At Manchester United, the superstar is extremely unhappy, the record champions missed qualifying for the Champions League after a catastrophic season, after the second matchday of the current round they "adorn" the bottom of the table in the Premier League. And Ronaldo wants to leave. But that's complicated. After the 37-year-old received cancellations from several big clubs, people are already talking about the "last option". And the remaining exit strategy should be Borussia Dortmund from the point of view of the Ronaldo camp!
As the broadcaster CBS reports, citing sources close to the player, Ronaldo's powerful adviser Jorge Mendes is said to be urging the Bundesliga club to make an offer for his client. BVB, it is said, is now seen as the "last option" through which the multiple world footballer can also play in the Champions League for the 19th season in a row. He won the title five times and was the competition's top scorer seven times.
Now that big clubs across Europe have refrained from signing the ambitious Portuguese, BVB should prepare the way back to the big stage. Spanish media had already reported at the beginning of the week that there had at least been contact between the German runner-up and Mendes.
In Dortmund, CBS wants to know, there are still internal debates about whether Manchester United should make a late offer for Ronaldo - the summer transfer window closes on September 1st. Ronaldo is open to a move to Dortmund, but it shouldn't fail because of the money.
After striker Sébastien Haller fell ill with cancer, Dortmund recently signed 34-year-old Anthony Modeste as a replacement. The transfer budget is currently considered to be exhausted. Ronaldo is said to be making around €29m net a year in Manchester - but as CBS writes, Ronaldo is "ready to accept a pay cut of at least 30% to leave Manchester United and could take an even bigger pay cut for Dortmund consider." He would also accept a multi-year deal with a pay cut in the second year. Dortmund have not yet commented on the speculation.
The chance of the German championship would of course be much greater at Bayern, but the record champions had waved it off weeks ago: “Personally, I think Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest footballers that has ever existed on this planet. But we came to We came to the conclusion that, despite all of our appreciation, he would not have fitted in with our philosophy in the current situation," said Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn back in July.
Meanwhile, despite all the speculation, Ronaldo's club Manchester United continues to insist that they have no interest whatsoever in letting the star who is willing to change go. The "Basta!" The troubled club is said to have softened in the meantime: As the portal "The Athletic" reports, the new coach Erik ten Haag should now be able to make friends with his superstar's farewell.
