Cristiano Ronaldo is open to forming a sensational partnership with Lionel Messi at Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
The 37-year-old has handed in a bombshell transfer request to the Manchester United board after only one season back at Old Trafford and failed to report for pre-season training on Monday due to "personal reasons." Ronaldo's unrelenting desire to compete for the top honours and play Champions League football is understood to be the primary reason behind his demand, and PSG could offer him just that.
Chelsea and Bayern Munich are also among the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's preferred options, while Ronaldo would also be keen to join French champions and team up with Messi and Kylian Mbappe in Paris.
The Independent report that while PSG are looking to get rid of Neymar this summer, Ronaldo would be keen to try Ligue 1, a competition in which he has never played, and help Les Parisiens in their obsession to finally win the Champions League.
PSG snapped Messi up last summer on a historic free transfer, handing him a mega-money two-year deal. There, Messi - who played for Barcelona throughout Ronaldo's time at Real Madrid - linked up with fellow stars Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, but they were unable to make it past the first knockout round in the Champions League... something which has ultimately cost Mauricio Pochettino his job. Beaten 3-2 on aggregate by eventual winners Real Madrid, PSG are growing more desperate to finally get their hands on Europe's biggest prize, 11 years on from their Qatari-funded takeover.
The Parc des Princes side ruled themselves out of the running to sign Ronaldo 12 months ago when he decided to quit Juventus. "We haven't even thought about it," club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi told beIN Sports last summer when asked about the prospect of the Portuguese superstar following Messi to Paris. How they could keep in line with UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules, particularly after handing Mbappe a new huge contract, is anyone's guess.
While Premier League rivals Chelsea are considering a swoop, Bayern Munich's sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has poured cold water on claims which suggested that Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, had informed the Bundesliga behemoths of his client's situation.
" Cristiano Ronaldo is a top player with an outstanding career," Salihamidzic told Sky Germany. "However, the rumour that is circulating is a rumour that has no truth in it." However, that was before Ronaldo told United of his desire to quit.
United - who will compete in the Europa League next season under new manager Erik ten Hag - bagged Ronaldo's signature for just £13million, but on an eye-watering £500,000-a-week contract. He scored 24 goals in 37 goals last term, dragging the Red Devils to sixth place in what went down as their worst-ever Premier League campaign.
He had been making the right noises since Ten Hag's appointment, about seemingly being excited to work under the Dutch tactician and help bring the Red Devils back to the top.
"What I know about him is he did a fantastic job for Ajax, that he's an experienced coach. But we need to give him time. Things need to change the way he wants.
"I hope we have success, of course, because, if you have success, all of Manchester is going to have success as well. I wish him the best. We are happy and excited, not only as players, but the supporters as well. I wish him the best and let's believe that, next year, we are going to win trophies."
In a separate interview, the Portugal captain added: "I know he did a fantastic job for Ajax and that he's an experienced coach but we need to give him time. Things need to change the way he wants. I hope we have success, of course. Because if you have success all of Manchester is going to have success as well so I wish him the best."
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