Calderon: Madrid let Ronaldo go because they were chasing Neymar

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Real Madrid allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to leave because they were looking to make a big-money move for PSG star Neymar, according to former Merengues president Ramon Calderon.

Neymar

The Portuguese forward joined Juventus for around £99.2 million last summer after winning four Champions League titles during his time at the Bernabeu.

However, Calderon believes that Ronaldo wasn’t happy at being told that he wouldn’t be handed a lucrative new contract as Madrid chased the Brazilian winger.

“Cristiano wanted a wage rise after winning the Champions League,” Calderon told Radio Villa Trinidad.

“However, Florentino refused. Ronaldo was also angry as Real were willing to spend big to land Neymar.

“Florentino told him that if somebody offered €100 million, that he could go. That's what happened.”

Alasdair Mackenzie

Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.