Cristiano Ronaldo has asked Manchester United for a summer transfer before next season per a report from The Times. Ronaldo still has a year on his United contract but after the club failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League last season, he has put in a request to leave. Where will the next Ronaldo transfer end up being?
Cristiano Ronaldo told Man United he wants to leave this summer as he wants to see more ambition. Man Utd are still hopeful of keeping CR7, but aware of decision. #Ronaldo
Cristiano has no agreement with any other club. Mendes explored options for weeks and will continue. pic.twitter.com/VRji13zrz0— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 2, 2022
Cristiano Ronaldo has told Man Utd he wants to leave this summer, as @DuncanCastles reports. 37yo said to love club but wants to play CL + fight for top honours in final stage of career - doesn’t feel likely at #MUFC. Napoli among suitors @TheAthleticUK https://t.co/rFxa8i1pRO
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 2, 2022
Ronaldo has the nickname “Mr. Champions League” and for good reason. The 37-year-old is the competition’s all-time time scorer and has played in the tournament for 19 seasons in a row. Ronaldo simply doesn’t play in the Europa League. Therefore, the Portuguese star will need to transfer to a club that is qualified for Champions League ball in the 2022-23 season.
Clubs Most Likely To Go After A Ronaldo Transfer
- Chelsea
- Bayern Munich
- Napoli
The Athletic reports that Bayern and Napoli, two Champions League bound clubs, have expressed interest in Ronaldo. The German giants will need to find a replacement as Robert Lewandowski wants to depart this summer. The move would make sense to lose one superstar and replace him with perhaps an even bigger one. It's worth noting that Bayern's sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has tried to deny any rumors and links between the two.
One clear thing is that Ronaldo is a trophy hunter who wants to conquer Europe. Manager Carlo Ancelotti made history last season as the first manager to win the league title in all of Europe's “big five” leagues. Imagine if Ronaldo became the first to do it as a player.
A move to Bayern would all but ensure a Bundesliga title for Ronaldo and then he would only need to win Ligue 1 to get all five. He would be like the Thanos of European football but instead of infinity stones he’s going for league titles.
Napoli would be an interesting choice for Ronaldo. After CR7 left Juventus last summer it didn’t seem possible that he would return to Serie A. Napoli isn’t much of a Champions League giant and would be big underdogs in the competition even with Ronaldo. In the modern era of the Champions League Napoli hasn’t ever progressed further than the Round of 16.
The last potential suitor, Chelsea, has already had some wheels in motion. In June new American Chelsea owner Todd Boehly reportedly met with Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes. Chelsea will need to fill the gap left from Romelu Lukaku’s departure to Inter Milan. Imagine if Christian Pulisic got to play alongside Ronaldo.
All I’m saying is, if Todd Boehly has sat down with Jorge Mendes and Cristiano Ronaldo has asked to leave Man United merely a week later, keep your eyes and ears open. pic.twitter.com/ViqGscGcfa
— Jamie Wilkinson (@jamiewiIkinson) July 2, 2022
One thing that could potentially get in the way of that move is Ronaldo’s love for Manchester United. Reports say that Ronaldo will only accept a move away from United for the right bid. There’s the possibility he chooses not to play for another English club to respect Manchester United.
We shall see what comes out of this summer’s Ronaldo Transfer rumor.
