He may still be regarded as one of the greatest players of our generation, one of the best ever to have played the beautiful game, yet recent months have become increasingly difficult for Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester united. This has brought about increasing speculation that as early as the January transfer window, the Portuguese superstar could be looking for an escape route from Old Trafford, now fuelled by a recent property purchase.
Following an incident in October, when Ronaldo refused to appear as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur, he was immediately suspended from training by manage Erik ten Hag. That punishment also extended to the next Premier League match against Chelsea, when he was also dropped from the side which drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge. Inevitably, this prompted widespread talk about his future at the club.
Although the United boss was keen to bring some calm to the situation, insisting that he still regards Ronaldo as a key ingredient in his team, the player himself has only added to rumours of a potential departure. Seemingly making plans for the future, and reported by tabloid outlet The Sun, one exit route from the Red Devils appears to have already emerged, after he reportedly purchased the most expensive house in Portugal.
Ronaldo spends £18m on Portugal’s most expensive house amid links with Sporting https://t.co/VfgnPgaTdi
— Sun Sport (@SunSport) October 28, 2022
What makes the £18 million property he bought even more interesting, the location is just a short drive from the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, prompting discussions that Ronaldo may be moving back to his home country. As a youngster, his senior debut in professional football came at Sporting Club de Portugal, the famous team in green and white who play at Estadio Jose Alvalade, based in the capital city.
There has often been talk about Ronaldo making a fairy-tale return to the club, upon reaching the end of his illustrious time in football, possibly taking it full circle and back to where everything began. Insofar as their financial capacity to make any such move happen, eyebrows are inevitably raised about whether this is entirely realistic, yet the rumours and speculation have continued to persist about him playing for Sporting Club again.
Ronaldo had sought an exit last summer, although very few serious offers were actually forthcoming. He is paid roughly £500,000 every week at Manchester United, which very few clubs in the world could ever hope to afford. Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal confirmed their interest was genuine, reported the Daily Mail, before they had to withdraw an ambitious bid for Ronaldo. He was not entirely keen and they were in the midst of a transfer ban.
Keen to continue playing in Europe and at the very highest level, Ronaldo will only consider offers from clubs in the same continent, particularly given his still wants to play in the UEFA Champions League. He is also a player who can still attract huge interest and big crowds, making his appearance at the upcoming World Cup even more appealing, aiming to inspire and boost the chances of his national team succeeding at the flagship tournament.
Ahead of the biggest sporting ever to grace the Middle East, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is already filling the region with enthusiasm and excitement. This extends to those who fancy backing teams at the upcoming tournament, searching to find the best betting sites available in Arabic. But according to the experts at Arabian Betting, the biggest priorities must always be security and safety, which they aim to provide via detailed research and advice.
Brazil are currently tipped as favourites to win the 2022 World Cup, although odds can vary from one site to the next, which means comparing markets and promotions will certainly be worthwhile. Argentina could be the strongest contenders, as their odds have shortened significantly in recent weeks, although despite featuring one of the best players in the modern game, Portugal are still being regarded as relative outsiders.
The tournament in Qatar will feature a host of iconic soccer stars, while several of them will be making their last ever World Cup appearances. This might include Cristiano Ronaldo, who is due to celebrate his 38th birthday next February, making it increasingly unlikely he would continue representing Portugal at the next World Cup, due to be co-hosted in 2026 by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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