CELEBRITY
CRISTIANO RONALDO IS READY TO REJOIN MAN UNITED
Manchester United have recently made contact with Cristiano Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes over a sensational Old Trafford return, according to reports. Here’s why the transfer could happen
Cristiano Ronaldo has long been linked with a move back to Manchester United. But it seems that ahead of this summer rumours are stronger than they have ever been.
Ronaldo joined Man United back in 2003 and spent six seasons at Old Trafford, winning the Ballon d’Or, three Premier League titles and the Champions League.
He left Man United for Real Madrid in 2009 where he continued to win trophies, before putting pen to paper with Juventus in 2018.
According to recent reports from Italy, Manchester United have made contact with Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes over a sensational Old Trafford return.
Here we look at five reasons why the transfer could happen.
Trouble in paradise
When Ronaldo signed for Juventus it was with a view to winning the Champions League with a third club.
The Old Lady reached the final in 2017 but were beaten by Ronaldo’s Real Madrid.
There was the feeling that one special signing could make all the difference, and Ronaldo was to be that man – the player to clinch the European crown.
But things haven’t worked out for Juventus or Ronaldo during his two seasons at the club, with Juventus reaching only the last-16 in the past two seasons.
As a result, Ronaldo is said to be growing tired of the failings in Turin and looking for an escape route this summer despite having a year left on his Juventus contract.
Man United can afford him
Ronaldo wouldn’t command a huge transfer fee these days.
After all, the Portuguese is now 36 years old and has just one year left on his contract in Italy.
But his wages would be astronomical – a reported £520,000-a-week – meaning there are only a few clubs who could afford him.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was recently asked whether Los Blancos are considering bringing the forward back to the Bernabeu for one last hurrah.
But Perez ruled out a transfer taking place.
He told El Chiringuito: “Cristiano Ronaldo will not come back to Real Madrid. It does not make sense, he has a contract with Juventus. I love him a lot, he has given us a lot.”
This leaves Ronaldo with limited options unless he chooses to leave the continent for a team in Asia or America.
United could just about stretch to add the Portuguese to their wage bill, but reports in Italy suggest they may not have to break the bank, with claims Ronaldo would be willing to take a pay cut.
A new frontman is needed
Manchester United have some brilliant strikers in Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, and Anthony Martial.
But the trio are still relatively young and have benefitted immensely from having the experienced head of Edinson Cavani in the Old Trafford dressing room this season.
The Uruguayan has showcased his excellence week-in, week-out since joining United on a free from Paris Saint-Germain, with his movement in the box praised after every game.
Having him around is getting the best from all the attacking players at the club, but his dad has suggested he will be leaving at the end of the season after only one year at United.
Cavani’s father claims he’s unhappy at Old Trafford and will more than likely be moving home to South America to conclude his career with a team in Argentina.
Should this happen, a huge hole will appear in United’s attack, and Ronaldo would be the perfect candidate to fill it.
When the Portuguese played for United first time round he was a winger, but in recent years he has morphed into the perfect centre-forward – the ultimate fox in the box.
His experience would continue Cavani’s work at United, and help get the best out of Greenwood and co. for the future.
Super League apology
Manchester United owners The Glazers upset fans this week when it was announced that the club would be signing up for the European Super League.
The controversial decision was met with unanimous backlash from fans, who demanded the Red Devils U-turn on their decision.
United eventually bowed to the pressure and 48 hours after the announcement confirmed that they would be backing out.
Joel Glazer issued an apology to supporters in response.
Fans are pleased with the club’s decision to back out of the Super League, but they’re not happy it was something that was agreed upon in the first place – especially as supporters were not made aware in advance.
It’s going to be a long time if ever before the relationship between The Glazers and the fans is healed, and the owners may feel signing Ronaldo could go some way to making it up to the supporters.
Written in the stars
Ronaldo has continually dropped hints over the years that he’d like to one day return to United.
It would be the ultimate fairytale and one that the Portuguese would seemingly be only too happy to write.
In 2014, Ronaldo admitted he couldn’t rule out returning to Old Trafford one day, saying: “Some players I am still in contact with because when I was there I created a good relationship with everybody, not just the players, all the staff around.
“And it was like my second family there too, so I’ll not forget that the people treat me well. I’ll not forget. I love Manchester, to be back, I never know, you never know.
“Of course I’m happy at Real Madrid, it’s my home, it’s my club but Manchester treat me unbelievable so we never know.”
https://get-latest.convrse.media/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mirror.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Fnews%2F5-reasons-cristiano-ronaldo-ready-23968557&cre=bottom&cip=60&view=web In a different interview in the same year, he added: “I love Manchester. Everyone knows that. Manchester is in my heart. The supporters are amazing and I wish I can come back one day.”
Three years later in 2017, Ronaldo announced: “Nothing is impossible,” when asked about a possible return.
Around the same time, he also praised United fans for not booing him, unlike Real Madrid’s supporters.
“I don’t like it and it’s not normal that they whistle you in your own stadium. I just don’t like it,” said Ronaldo. “It’s not correct. And when you are on a difficult run that is when you need extra support from outside not less. Sometimes we don’t have it.
“I spent a lot of years at Manchester United and it never happened to me. Not even once. Maybe England is a case apart – the mentality is different.”
-Mirror
Diego Maradona’s death “would have been avoided” if the medical team around him had done their job, his daughter Dalma accused on Tuesday at the trial of health professionals of the circumstances of the death of the Argentine football idol
Dalma, 38, the elder of Maradona’s two daughters with his ex-wife Claudia Villafañe, was a star witness on the 11th day of the trial in San Isidro (north of Buenos Aires). And like others since the start of the trial, she blamed the caregivers of her father’s final weeks and the framework of his convalescence.
” If they had done their job, (his death) would have been avoided,” Dalma said, referring to the medical team and in particular to three of the accused: attending physician and neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov and psychologist Carlos Diaz.
” They deceived us (the family) in the most cruel way (…) They made us believe that the only possible option was to convalesce at home after his operation, in a house that was rented for the occasion in Tigre (north of Buenos Aires),” Dalma said.
According to them, ” it would be a serious home hospitalisation,” Diego would have everything like in a clinic, but in a house,” with 24/7 medical attention, medical equipment, an ambulance at the door permanently, she continued.
” It never happened,” she said in a statement often interrupted by tears. In this “disgusting, piss-smelling ” house, a doctor only came to see him from time to time.”
Maradona died at the age of 60 on November 25, 2020, from a cardiorespiratory crisis complicated by pulmonary oedema, in this private residence, where he had been convalescing for two weeks after neurosurgery for a head hematoma.
Seven practitioners – doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses – are accused of “homicide with possible intent”, characterised when a person commits negligence while knowing that it can lead to death.
Mr. Luque, who was close to Maradona, ” was his primary care physician, and I didn’t think he was recommending something that wouldn’t be best for my father,” Dalma continued.
With his sister Gianinna ” we didn’t have much influence, we could say what we thought but didn’t decide anything .” Sometimes someone from the care team or from the entourage would say “that Dad was sleeping, sometimes that he didn’t want to see anyone,” that the best thing was not to disturb him. “
” In hindsight, we should have decided.”
Last Tuesday, Veronica Ojeda, ex-partner and mother of Maradona’s son born in 2013, testified that the star’s close entourage “kept him as if he were sequestered” in the last months of his life.
The practitioners on trial, who deny any responsibility for the death, are seeking sentences of 8 to 25 years in prison. The trial is expected to last until July, with one or two hearings per week.
–Le360 (with AFP)
Mexican referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava found out the hard way that there are consequences for seeking an autograph from eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup winner Lionel Messi — he was hit with a CONCACAF disciplinary sanction.
As the final whistle blew on Inter Miami’s 1-0 Champions Cup win over Sporting Kansas City, secured by a brilliant second-half goal from Messi, the referee known as ‘El Gato’ approached the Argentina international.
He appeared to be asking for the striker’s shirt to join the Messi-mania, but it turned out he was actually requesting an autograph for a relative with special needs.
Despite the heartfelt request, Ortiz’s actions did not comply with CONCACAF’s code of conduct for officials.
“Upon investigation, CONCACAF has learned that the referee approached the player to request an autograph for a family member with special needs,” the North American football governing body said in a statement to ESPN.
Although the exact nature of the disciplinary action was not disclosed, CONCACAF added that Ortiz accepted full responsibility for his actions and apologised for his breach of protocol.
The first leg of the premier continental tournament for clubs from North America, Central America and the Caribbean was initially postponed due to a winter storm warning in the area.
Inter Miami will host Sporting in the return leg at Chase Stadium on Tuesday.
“The referee’s actions were not in accordance with the confederation’s code of conduct for match officials and the procedures in place for these types of requests.”
Reuters
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The world’s top athletes don’t just dominate on the field—they lead the way financially, too.
From football icons to basketball superstars, these elite performers are earning staggering sums through salaries, endorsements, and off-field ventures.
Using data from Sportico, sportsunlimitednews breaks down the top 10 highest-paid athletes globally.
10. Jon Rahm
On December 2023, Jon Rahm announced he was joining LIV Golf after a very successful stint at the PGA, earning 11 PGA Tour wins since joining in 2016. Now signed under LIV Golf, the Spaniard is considered one of the best-paid athletes in the world, accumulating $85.6 (€82.3/£68.55) million in winnings and $20 (€19.2/£16) million on endorsement deals
9. Kylian Mbappe
Following his massive transfer to Real Madrid in 2024, Kylian Mbappe is now ranked the 9th highest-paid athlete in the world. The French forward earns $85 (€81.6/£68.9) million in salary and $25 (€24/£20) million in endorsements, totalling $110 (€105/£88) million—a ‘galactico’ price tag for one of the best players in the world.
8. Karim Benzema
Another former Real Madrid star, Karim Benzema is ranked amongst the top ten best-paid athletes in the world following his move to Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia). The French striker earns $108 (€103/£86.4) million alongside $8 (€7.6/£6.4) million in endorsements.
7. Oleksandr Usyk
Up next, we have an undisputed heavyweight champion, who took down Tyson Fury for a second time in 2024. Oleksandr Usyk is arguably one of the best fighters in the world right now, and his earnings reflect that. The Ukrainian makes an average of $120 (€115/£96) million in winnings alongside $2 (€1.9/£1.6) million on endorsements, standing on $122 (€117/£97.7) million.
6. Neymar Jr.
Neymar Jr. is in the final stages of his professional football career. The former Barcelona and PSG man has enjoyed a successful stint across multiple teams around the world. Now in Santos FC, the Brazilian star is still considered one of the highest-paid players in the world, earning a $108 (€103/£82) million salary and $25 (€24/£20) million in endorsements.
5. LeBron James
The Los Angeles Lakers veteran and NBA star is ranked fifth in the world following his jaw-dropping $85 (€81.6/£68.3) million endorsement deals with Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. Alongside his endorsements, he cashes in a salary of $48.2 (€46.3/£38.6) million a year.
4. Lionel Messi
The Inter Miami star has one of the most lucrative contracts in world football. The Argentinian forward earns $60 (€57.6/£48) million a year, alongside $75 (€72/£60) million on endorsement deals. He is linked to Louis Vuitton, Mastercard and Pepsi.
3. Tyson Fury
The ‘Gypsie King’ is ranked third in the world, despite his recent losses and retirement announcement in late 2024. Fury cashed in $140 (€134.4/£112) million in winnings alongside $7 (€6.7/£5.6) million in endorsement deals, a very fruitful 2024 for the former British heavyweight champ.
2. Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry can still boast of having the highest-paying salary in the NBA for the eighth straight year. According to ESPN, his Golden State deal is worth around $55 (€52/£41.2) million this season. On top of that, the American point guard earns $100 (€95/£79.9) million in endorsements.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo still ranks at the top as the best-paid athlete in the world. The Al-Nassr star earns a jaw-dropping $215 (€206/£171.9) million salary, alongside $45 (€43.1/£35.9) in endorsements from Armani, Herbalife, TAG Heuer, and Clear Shampoo.
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