Businessman Markus Schon is exploring an unusual deal which could see him finance a move for Cristiano Ronaldo to join Bayern Munich this summer.
Ronaldo signed for Al-Nassr midway through the season after leaving Manchester United by mutual agreement. He has scored 13 goals for his new club, who sit second in the Saudi Pro League, but reports of a return to Europe continue to follow the veteran around.
Bayern were linked with a swoop for Ronaldo before the striker joined Al-Nassr, only for CEO Oliver Kahn to rule out such a move. Now, though, a new opportunity has been put before the German title challengers.
“It would be conceivable that we could undertake to pay a transfer fee or loan fee in excess of a basic amount to be defined if our company is clearly seen as 'facilitating' the difference,” Schon wrote, per Abendzeitung (via Football Transfers ). “In the event of a permanent commitment, we would expect a share in the proceeds from the jersey in order to limit our financial risk.”
The businessman is said to have emailed Kahn directly with his proposal. However, any deal would need Ronaldo to take a pay cut on his current Al-Nassr deal. Ronaldo's deal in Saudi Arabia is worth a reported £173m a year, making the Portuguese the highest-paid player in world football. His deal with the club runs until 2025.
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If Schon's proposal is to prove successful, it would require a change of heart from Kahn. The club chief, previously a goalkeeper for Bayern and Germany, suggested in November that the Bavarian side's objectives didn't suit a move for the now-38-year-old frontman.
"We have already dealt with this," Kahn told Sky Germany, "We have a clear idea, a clear philosophy of how our squad should be put together. We all appreciate him, there's no discussion. We all love Cristiano Ronaldo, but that's something that doesn't fit into our idea."
Bayern were among the clubs linked with a move last summer, with Ronaldo looking for a Champions League switch. He was Man Utd's top scorer last season, but the Premier League side fell well short of a top-four finish.
Kahn had also made the club's position clear over the summer. Bayern did strengthen their forward line, but did so by bringing in Sadio Mane from Liverpool and Matthys Tel from Rennes.
"As highly as I rate Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the greatest, a transfer wouldn't be a fit with our philosophy," the CEO said at the time. "I love Cristiano Ronaldo and everyone knows how fantastic he is. But every club has a certain philosophy and I’m not sure if it would be the right thing for Bayern and the Bundesliga if we signed him now."
