Is Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid?

Rumors are coming in thick and fast that Cristiano Ronaldo is negotiating his exit from Real Madrid. Juventus seems to be leading the line for him. Is this going to be the year he finally leaves? We look at the developments below

What we know so far

Since Cristiano Ronaldo gave that infamous pitch-side interview post the Champions League final in Kiev, speculation has continued to grow over his potential departure from Real Madrid.

The initial fan response was that it was a call for attention since he was overshadowed by Gareth Bale in the Champions League final. They said it was an attempt to steal the limelight from his fellow forward. But Ronaldo was quick to dismiss such thought. He hinted that it’s not an off-the-cuff sentiment, that some ‘things’ have been going on for a while which have made him reconsider his future.

Now those ‘things’ can be as follows. He may be referring to the tax case against him, where he expected more support from Real Madrid, as Lionel Messi received from Barcelona in a similar case. He may also be referring to the gulf in pay between him and the other football superstars – Messi and Neymar. Or it could be the open courtship by Florentino Perez of Neymar, without possibly taking Ronaldo into confidence.