-Ikenna Okafor
Atletico Madrid have turned down the opportunity to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United. Ronaldo made it clear recently that he wants out of Old Trafford and wishes to play for a team that can offer Champions League football.
Since the beginning of July, the Portuguese superstar has been heavily linked with an exit from Old Trafford in pursuit of Champions League football.However, a number of clubs – including Chelsea and Bayern Munich – are said to have no interest in trying to negotiate a deal for the 37-year-old.Agent Jorge Mendes has spoken to the likes of Chelsea, PSG, Napoli and Bayern Munich but they have all decided against the move Rumours started to emerge that a shock move to Atletico Madrid could be in the offing, with head coach Diego Simeone a known admirer.
However, the Rojoblanco have become the latest team to reject a move for the galactico, citing financial reasons for their decision.”It is not economically viable’, they insist over and over again at Atlético when Cristiano Ronaldo’s name comes to the fore,” .“The drowning rojiblancos’ accounts could not afford a very high wage like that of the Portuguese, as well as pay a transfer fee to Manchester United , a club with which he has a valid contract.“That is the reality.”During a nine-year stint at the Bernabeu, Ronaldo scored 450 goals and won 15 pieces of silverware, including two La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies.
The report on Monday also indicated that Atletico may need to make a number of sales in order to facilitate an ambitious effort to sign Ronaldo.
With Ronaldo running out of realistic alternatives, the veteran, who scored 24 goals last season, appears increasingly likely to spend a second year at the Theatre Of Dreams.
Atletico turns down Ronaldo