Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has added controversy to the Spanish giants’ bid for Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale, by claiming it is a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Whilst many Madrid fans are rubbing their hands at the prospect of Bale and Ronaldo playing together at the Santiago Bernabeu, Calderon actually thinks Los Blancos are panic buying the Welshman as their star winger is on his way.
“I know that he [Ronaldo] is not happy at all with the attitude and behaviour of the president. He is asking for €20million net every season which is going to be difficult for Real to accept,” the ex-president told talkSPORT.
“I think the president has all his eggs on the table just in case he can’t get the renewal of Cristiano. That is my impression.
“He’s afraid at some moment that Cristiano will say, ‘I am not going to go on’. That will be bad news for Madrid. I would like to see him retire at Real but now the situation is difficult.”
The comments from Calderon pose an interesting dilemma for Madrid, but which sides in world football could actually afford the Portugal captain is debatable.
Whilst Ronaldo would possibly favour a return to Manchester United, the deal is unlikely and only Ligue 1 rich boys Paris Saint-Germain and AS Monaco have the resources to realistically land the 28-year-old.
Of course it is worth baring in mind that current president Florentino Perez took over at the Bernabeu from Calderon in 2009 and made Ronaldo a marquee signing under his new reign.
Therefore this outburst from the predecessor could simply be trying to undermine Perez, as the man in charge aims to break the world transfer record for the third time during his time in the Spanish capital.
[Fanatix]