Ronaldo ready to accept 30% pay cut to force switch to Atletico from Man United
Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo is willing to take a big pay cut in order to exit Old Trafford this summer.
The Portuguese legend is willing to take a 30% pay cut, according to Ben Jacobs, in order to get a transfer, and it has been revealed that he is willing to join Atletico Madrid, arch-rivals of former club Real Madrid.
Ronaldo formally requested a transfer from United at the beginning of July but has not drawn the interest a player of his calibre might have expected, so a pay cut may be a ploy to tempt Champions League sides to make a bid for him.
Jorge Mendes is making it clear to clubs put off by his wages that Cristiano Ronaldo is willing to take a significant pay cut, potentially as high as 30%. Ronaldo remains interested in an Atleti move. But club continue to distance themselves, as previously reported.
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) July 21, 2022
He won the Champions League four times during nine successful years with Real Madrid – but the Bernabeu club have ruled out the prospect of bringing him back this summer
In order to fast-track the intended exit, Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes has reportedly been touting his services to Europe’s top clubs – seemingly to no avail.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico are the latest big club to be linked with the 37-year-old, and have so far followed suit in distancing themselves from Ronaldo, although the links have refused to subside.
And although they are able to offer the five-time Ballon d’Or winner the Champions League football he desires, they may struggle to pay his wages.
And despite the 30% cut Ronaldo is willing to take, any side will still likely have to pay around £300,000-a-week for his services.
Chelsea, PSG and Bayern Munich had previously ruled out an approach, and Los Blancos became the latest to turn him down.
Spanish newspaper Marca say there is no possibility of Ronaldo returning to the Bernabeu as he doesn’t feature in their plans, despite a phenomenal 450 goals in 438 matches for the club between 2009 and 2018.
Erik ten Hag’s side have not missed Ronaldo’s goals as they have scored 11 goals in three games
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Real are the reigning European champions and Ronaldo has made no secret of his desire to win the Champions League for the fifth time, as well as extend his lead over Lionel Messi in the competition’s all-time scorers’ chart.
Ronaldo has not reported back for pre-season training, and as such is not part of Erik ten Hag’s squad in Thailand and Australia, although his absence has not yet hindered their progress.
United have won all three of their tour matches so far, racking up 11 goals in the process and Anthony Martial, playing in Ronaldo’s centre forward position, has scored in each fixture.