Real not interested in CR7 return
MADRID – Real Madrid have reportedly slammed the door shut on bringing back wantaway Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo in January.
The 37-year-old looks set to depart United once he returns from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after his two part bombshell interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV last week.
The Red Devils are exploring the possibility of terminating Ronaldo’s contract seven months early without paying any of the £16 million he is predicted to earn by June 2023.
United believe Ronaldo has violated his terms of employment with his criticism of the club’s US owners, Manager Erik ten Hag, the club’s facilities, his teammates and former Red Devils players including Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville.
Explosive
Since that explosive interview, Ronaldo is said to have offered himself to Los Blancos on a six-month contract, as a replacement for the injured Karim Benzema in January.
The Ballon d’Or winner was forced to pull out of France’s World Cup squad after picking up a thigh injury.
Real Madrid, however, are not interested in signing the Portugal international for a second time, according to Spanish news outlet Marca. Ronaldo is a club legend at Real Madrid, having scored 451 goals in 438 appearances during his time at the Bernabeu.
He won four Champions League crowns, three Club World Cups and UEFA Super Cups apiece, two LaLiga titles, a pair of Copas del Rey and two Spanish Super Cups with the LaLiga giants.
Despite all of that success, Ronaldo will not get a sensational return to Real, and the Portugal international will instead have to look elsewhere.
The former Juventus star, however, is keen to focus on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar for now and he is expected to be involved for Portugal against
Ghana in their World Cup opener on Thursday.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is aiming to add the World Cup to his already glittering array of honours, having won the Euros with his country in 2016 and likely featuring in his last tournament for his country.