Cristiano Ronaldo’s former club sporting Lisbon are the bookies’ favourites to be the Manchester United superstar’s next club ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Portugal international has not had the best return to Old Trafford, with his second spell starting brightly before fading as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked and replaced with interim head coach Ralf Rangnick.
As well as speculation over who could be the next Man Utd manager for the 2022/23 season, it seems there’s also growing talk of an unsettled Ronaldo ending his second stint with the club early.
Reports today suggest the 37-year-old has held showdown talks over his future, and it’s perhaps not surprising that the Red Devils face a fight to keep hold of such a big name.
The veteran forward is coming towards the end of his career, and won’t be content with Europa League football and a lack of major trophies at United.
If you’re a fan of online sports betting Uk users may want to take a look at these latest odds rounding up a number of the biggest online bookies and their takes on Ronaldo’s future.
As things stand, it’s Ronaldo’s first club Sporting who seem to be the favourites, but could we also see him return to another of his old clubs, Real Madrid? Or linking up with long-time nemesis Lionel Messi at Paris Saint-Germain? Or perhaps even more unthinkably, making the move across Manchester to spear-head Pep Guardiola’s Man City side?
Here are the latest odds on Ronaldo’s next move…
Sporting Lisbon – 7/2
PSG – 4/1
Real Madrid – 14/1
Man City – 16/1
In truth, Ronaldo is starting to show signs of his age, so a step down to a less competitive level with a club like Sporting might make the most sense right now.
While Ronaldo will always be a legend, it seems even he is human, and playing in the Premier League at the age of 37 is no mean feat.
Some Man Utd fans might be quite relieved in a way, as Ronaldo’s departure would give them the chance to build something new up front, with younger players surely needed in that department.
The club’s next permanent manager will surely have ideas about who could come in, but it’s hard to imagine Ronaldo would fit the demanding playing style of coaches like Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag.
Perhaps we’ll now see Ronaldo back to where it all started with Sporting, in what would be a fitting and emotional end to his sensational career at the highest level.
