Is there really a chance that Ronaldo leaves Real Madrid?
By Josh Hill
Cristiano Ronaldo has Real Madrid fans on edge as they celebrate what could be his final game with the club.
Real Madrid fans should be celebrating their club’s historic Champions League three-peat. After beating Liverpool on Saturday night, Real Madrid pulled off something that has been done only a handful of times in the history of football, winning the UCL in three consecutive years. But amid the celebration, there’s a nervous hum of anxiety.
There are questions to be asked about the future of Cristiano Ronaldo with Real Madrid. He was interested in answering none of those questions after the Champions League Final, and instead raised more than there were before.
After the match, Ronaldo talked out of all sides of his mouth to basically say nothing at all. He initially talked about Real in past tense, then correcting himself by saying he didn’t want his quotes taken out of context. What he kept repeating was that we’d all learn about his future in the coming days — something that he should have left alone.
He didn’t, and offered up this nugget which is sure to fill Real fans with a ton of anxiety:
"“I cannot guarantee that I will stay at Real Madrid, but this is not the moment to talk, as Madrid have made history, but neither am I going to hide. It is difficult to be at a better place than Madrid, the best club in the world, but life is not just about glory.”"
Cue the ‘Ronaldo Transfer Rumors’ posts that will spam the internet. There’s always been a chance he leaves Real, and by doing this he’s generating even higher interest in him on a market that was already buzzing.
Teams would give anything to have Ronaldo, and that’s what he wants. The ego of Ronaldo needs to be constantly stroked, and something like this accomplishes such a thing. It also gives Real notice that if they don’t do right by him, he has no loyalty to him outside of his own bottom line.
LeBron James might be the most popular free agent American athlete, but Ronaldo on the open market is going to literally stop the world from turning.