European media outlets are reporting that Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo could be moving from Real Madrid to Italian champions Juventus for the 2018-19 season.
Neither side has confirmed these rumors, but various reports have suggested everything from the transfer being a done deal to Juventus having yet to even make a formal offer for Ronaldo.
Juventus Reportedly Submit Bid for Ronaldo
According to a Sky Sports report released on Wednesday, Juventus has made a bid of about £88 million ($116.5 million) for the forward. That would make it the most expensive transfer fee ever paid by the Italian club, surpassing the £79 million ($104.5 million) the team paid for Argentinian Gonzalo Higuain in 2016.
Considering he’s in the conversation – usually with Lionel Messi – as possibly the best player in the world, Ronaldo would undoubtedly command a huge salary as well. According to Spanish television program Jugones, Juventus may be willing to pay him as much as $35 million a year, which would also make him the highest-paid player in the club’s history.
Those numbers would be incredible for any player, but are especially high when you consider that Ronaldo is already 33 years old. While he has shown no signs of slowing down yet, it’s still likely that the former Manchester United star is heading past the prime of his career.
Real Madrid Ready to Reload?
That may be why Real Madrid is willing to part with their superstar. While Real Madrid won their third straight Champions League title this year – their fourth time winning the competition in five years – they fared less well in league play. Real finished a disappointing third in La Liga, trailing Barcelona by 17 points and also ending up behind crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid.
That might motivate the brass at Real to consider retooling their team, and moving an aging superstar for a huge sum of money would be a great first step in that plan. It could also make way for a new superstar to take his place on the pitch, as Real Madrid has been rumored to be interested in either Neymar or Kylian Mbappe, both of whom are currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain.
It’s also possible that Ronaldo might be tiring of his time in Spain. There have been rumors that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has been unhappy at Real on an almost annual basis in recent years, and now there has been a report out of Madrid-based newspaper Marca that Ronaldo is already house hunting in Turin.
While so far these rumors have been far from definitive, and both clubs would have to agree on the rather expensive particulars of a transfer, bookmakers are already expecting the superstar to land in Italy. At Paddy Power, Juventus is a 1/2 favorite to be Ronaldo’s home for the upcoming season, while they’re offering 6/4 odds on him staying with Real. Outside contenders include Manchester United (14/1), PSG (16/1), or a potential move to MLS (22/1) or a club in China’s league (33/1).
Ronaldo is Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer with 451 goals. He previously played at Manchester United, where he tallied 84 league goals from 2003 to 2009, winning a Champions League title with the team in 2008.