Cristiano Ronaldo may be the most iconic figure in football at the moment, but even he's not above the dreaded transfer rumour-mill.
Reports today, originating in Spanish newspaper El Confidencial, insist that this season will be CR7’s last at the Santiago Bernabeu, despite the fact that the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, insisted recently that Ronaldo would retire with Real Madrid.
Big claim
In their infinite wisdom, El Confidencial have managed to throw Ronaldo’s situation and the ongoing legal issues surrounding Karim Benzema and Mathieu Valbuena in a combustible mixing pot. The product? A potential reason for Ronaldo to seek an exit from his current club next summer.
The bulk of the report in question focuses on the former Manchester United man’s desire to continue playing alongside Benzema, who is currently embroiled in the sex-tape scandal involving the aforesaid Valbuena.
Ronaldo move linked to Benzema
El Confidencial say that Benzema has finally tip-toed over the ‘do not cross’ line at the Bernabeu - they seem fairly confident that he’ll be flogged when the summer of 2016 comes around.
A by-product of this deal would apparently be that Ronaldo would want out of his life of incredible riches and fame in Madrid.
We say out, what we mean is simply that he would want to transfer it to PSG, a club who have coincidentally been linked with Benzema in the past as well.
Want to catch up on the Valbuena story? Go right ahead...
A deal possible?
Interestingly, Manchester United aren’t mentioned once in the piece in question. They’ve been hotly named in connection with Ronaldo over the past few months and are obviously natural candidates to be in the running for his signature if he does want to move clubs.
In any case, PSG certainly seem to have the funds for Ronaldo, even if the idea that they could bankroll transfers for both he and Benzema seems a little far-fetched.
We’ll say once again, though: Jorge Mendes has confirmed he doesn’t see Ronaldo going anywhere. Make of that what you will.
We want to know what you think. Is Ronaldo going to take Benzema and fly off into a Parisian sunset? Let us know in the comments box below.