Is Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid?

Can Ronaldo actually consider leaving?

It’s a fact that Ronaldo’s exit rumors are a common occurrence of most transfer windows, mostly coming from the overzealous English media reporting his return to Manchester United. It is also true that Ronaldo has used this as a leverage to negotiate better and longer contracts with Real Madrid, as most players do.

However, it’s important to note that this time he has voiced it himself and has actually been pretty clear of his desire to reconsider. On most previous occasions, these rumors have been sparked through his agent, close friends, trusted news outlets and other secondary sources. On those occasions, the easiest fall-back is ‘I never said anything’. However, he has chosen to not do that this time and has come out with it himself. That’s a point worth noting.

Also, his grievance of less pay is seemingly fair. Messi and Neymar earn far more than he does. And it is Ronaldo who has won 3 Champions Leagues and 2 Ballon d’Or in the last 3 years. He has arguably contributed more to his club than the other two. Even Alexis Sanchez and now Griezmann have better contracts than him. That doesn’t make any sense, and Ronaldo is right to feel hard done by the same. Reports from the Spanish media also suggested that Real Madrid had agreed to revise his pay, but then went back on it a few months back. If that is true, that would have surely added to the anguish.

Let’s also remember that Ronaldo hasn’t always had the best equation with Florentino Perez. Ronaldo was technically not a Perez signing, he was just following through on the agreement made by his predecessor, something which Perez has never forgotten. His relationship with the Madridistas has also been fractured at times, and a fair section of the fanbase has supported his departure in previous years. The love and adulation he had at Manchester United, and possibly still does, has not been matched at Madrid. And it’s something which Ronaldo has felt on multiple occasions.

He also knows that patience runs thin at Real Madrid, both in the club and in the fans. Many Madrid legends have left the Bernabeu quite ungracefully towards the end of their careers. Considering that, a move away to a prestigious European club in his twilight years does not seem entirely illogical. If he actually leads one of these clubs to a Champions League title, that will further add to his legacy.

Having said that, Real Madrid is the boyhood dream of Ronaldo. He has previously expressed his desire to retire there. If the club meets him halfway, he will want to work out a solution where he can fulfill his desire. But if the club does not budge, Ronaldo has too much self-respect and too many options to not do anything about it.