Search icon

Football

09th Jul 2018

Cristiano Ronaldo turned down another move ahead of reported Juventus transfer

Patrick McCarry

The Portuguese star still feels he has what it takes to continue playing in the world’s toughest leagues and competitions

He may be 33 and a World Cup triumph may now be beyond his reach but Cristiano Ronaldo is far from finished.

Having helped Real Madrid to their third successive Champions League title, Ronaldo hinted that his future may lie away from the Santiago Bernabeu. Zinedine Zidane stole both his and Gareth Bale’s cryptic thunder by coming straight out, a week after that success in Kiev, and announced he was off.

Los Blancos have a new manager installed but Ronaldo has been strongly reported with a move out the exit door too. Juventus are said to be favourites for his signature in a deal that could see Ronaldo get £30m per season on a two-year deal.

Marca is reporting that the former Manchester United forward could have earned more than three times that amount with a switch to the Chinese Super League.

The Spanish outlet is citing strong sources in their report on Ronaldo rejecting a €100m a season salary offer from an unnamed Chinese SL side back in December 2017. The five-time Ballon D’Or winner, the story notes, still feels he has a lot to offer at the upper echelons of football.

The likes of Carlos Tevez, Hulk, Oscar and Paulinho are all playing over in China on lucrative contracts, but Portugal’s captain fantastic won’t be joining them any time soon.

Indeed, should Ronaldo head off for a spell in Serie A, it is claimed that he then sees himself winding down his football career in United States’ Major League Soccer.

If it’s good enough for Robbie Keane, it’s good enough for Ronaldo.