Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United have cut ties – now he's got a few options ahead of him
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Cristiano Ronaldo has his wish. He is no longer a Manchester United player.
The pair may not have been able to agree on much but this mutual termination comes as no surprise to anyone, following the explosive interview with Piers Morgan in which the 37-year-old accused his employers of "betraying" him. A free agent now, Ronaldo can join another side right away and won't have to wait until January.
So where's he going to go? Who could feasibly be looking to integrate him? Here are the options on offer…
Who does Cristiano Ronaldo leave Manchester United for?
1. Atletico Madrid
"CR7 NOT WELCOME": Atletico fans make their feelings clear about a potential move for their former rival (Image credit: Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo etched himself into the history of Atletico Madrid's biggest rivals, with four Champions League titles at the Bernabeu and a record goal haul in white. He knocked Atleti out of the competition in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 with Real – twice in finals, one in a semi – before obliterating them in the black and white of Juventus in 2018 with a stunning second-leg hat-trick.
But Atletico Madrid were heavily linked with the star in the summer when murmurings of his unhappiness first came to light. Diego Simeone has previous in signing ageing strikers and would likely pair Ronaldo with another player – Joao Felix or Antoine Griezmann – to get the best from the Portuguese.
The sticking point? Fans vehemently protested the potential signing and El Cholo himself has since dismissed the possibility to landing the superstar. This one looks dead in the water for now – but a lot can still change in the saga.
2. Chelsea
(Image credit: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Chelsea were said to be one of a few teams who looked at the possibility of signing Ronaldo in the summer. In the end, the Blues went for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the basis that Thomas Tuchel knew what he was getting from his former Dortmund man.
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Well, Tuchel got just the one game to work with Auba and the Gabon captain hasn't exactly pulled up trees at Stamford Bridge. With owner Todd Boehly apparently keen on adding that defining superstar to his new toy, CR7 could yet be pursued again – especially now that there isn't the hassle of having to agree a fee with United.
Chelsea are eighth, have lost the last three and drawn the two before that in the Premier League… could Ronaldo be the answer for Boehly and Graham Potter?
3. AC Milan
(Image credit: MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is 40; Olivier Giroud 35. If AC Milan sign Ronaldo, they could put all three forwards on the pitch at a combined age of 115 this season.
Ronaldo was reportedly offered to the Rossoneri, though the Scudetto holders turned down the opportunity to sign him. Ronaldo may lower his demands, however, to join a side in the Champions League, even just for a year – while Milan may become more convinced to bolster now just their European chances but their odds of retaining the Scudetto with a serial goalscorer of both competitions.
It looks unlikely for now… but don't write it off.
4. Inter Milan
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Like their closest rivals, Inter Milan were also rumoured to have been offered Cristiano Ronaldo. They too have apparently said no.
But for all the reasons that Milan could sign Ronaldo, Inter could, too. They too are looking to secure a Serie A title and establish a little dominance in a league in which the power is currently up in the air. Inter will want a strong European campaign after reaching the next round, too, and if the deal is right, getting CR7 will feel like a no-brainer.
Whether or not Mendes, Ronaldo and United return for a second offer remains to be seen. The No.7 is free, too, following Alexis Sanchez's move to Marseille…
5. Paris Saint-Germain
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The Hollywood option. Not content with having a front three of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, PSG could theoretically tempt Ronaldo to the riches of the Parc Des Princes.
Messi and Ronaldo have famously never played together but the world would certainly love to see it. Mbappe apparently has a larger say following his new contract and would surely consider asking for the player who he has claimed is a personal hero of his.
Only this doesn't feel very PSG. Crazy, right? Les Parisiens and new sporting director Luis Campos have signed the likes of Vitinha, Renato Sanches, Hugo Ekitike and Nordi Mukiele, rather than the biggest possible names they can tempt. Maybe we never will see Messi and Ronaldo in the same side.
6. Borussia Dortmund
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Yeah, we know it's weird. But in some respects, Cristiano Ronaldo in the Bundesliga makes a lot of sense.
From CR7's perspective, he would get a campaign in the Champions League, likely qualify for the tournament again for next season and perhaps win the Golden Boot in Germany's top tier – despite only having half a season to do so (the leaders are on six, right now). From BVB's point of view, they've sadly lost summer signing Sebastien Haller to the sidelines, with the Ivorian undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with testicular tumour. They can hardly rely on 17-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko all season long.
The finances perhaps need finessing in this one, while how Dortmund's fans would react to such a signing may well be important, given how fan power rules in Germany. Bayern Munich, watch out…
7. Sporting
(Image credit: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Plenty of players return to their boyhood club in their twilight years. Could Cristiano Ronaldo do the same?
The positives of the move are similar to, well, the positives of just about every other possible move on the table right now – and the main reason he went back to United. Sporting are just about good enough that they should qualify for the Champions League with Ronaldo in their team, while the league is of the quality that Ronaldo should score plenty and look good.
The negative, once more, is the financial side of the deal – and Sporting not being in the Champions League for the second half of the season. Will romance trump money in this case?
8. Outside Europe
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Get used to playing in the Middle East, Cristiano. It could be your new home.
Ronaldo was reportedly offered a chance to play in Saudi Arabia over the summer with one of the few concrete offers for the forward coming from there. MLS also remains an option, with David Beckham's Inter Miami linked along with a host of other sides.
But while Ronaldo would be a huge coup to both – and he's not getting any younger – it seems from his comments about his recent experiences at United like he doesn't feel like he's finished at the top level. Perhaps he has one last huge move left in him…
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Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
