The Ronaldo to Real Madrid Rumours are Back

It must be January, because the Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid rumours are back. Much like the Kaka to Real Madrid rumours, this one appears whenever a transfer window opens, as Real president Ramon Calderon isn’t shy when it comes to dishing out praise to fan the fires of the rumour mill. Manchester United’s backheeltastic winger is on a long term deal at Old Trafford and in the form of his life, but added his own fuel to the fire while picking up the bronze medal at the FIFA Player of the Year Awards ceremony recently. “I’ve said on many occasions I’d like to play in Spain,” he teased. “It’s a fantastic league, very attractive, where they play a beautiful game.”

Certain English papers have put two and two together and come up with a figure of £45 million, just one million short of the record £46 million Real payed Juventus for Zidane in 2001.

Word is that Real are prepared to go even higher and test just how much Man Utd want to hang on to C-Ron. But it’s hard to put a price on Ronaldo right now. Not only does Fergie love the Portuguese winger like the twinkle toed son he never had (no offence Darren) he would also be literally impossible to replace. Who else can offer the threat and consistency Ronaldo provide for Man Utd right now? And even if Real are prepared to break the bank, it would still be foolish to spend big on a player who’s now cup-tied for this season’s Champions League.

But before you get all cynical and dismiss these transfer rumours as complete nonsense, take a look at Ronaldo’s form in 2007 (below) and you’ll see exactly why Calderon would be willing to empty the Bernabéu coffers.