Cristiano Ronaldo is being offered an escape route from his Manchester United nightmare – with a potential move to Inter Miami.
The MLS outfit, owned by former United superstar David Beckham, are willing to pay the Portuguese ace a whopping £30million annually to lure him to the United States next year. Miami’s top foreigner Gonzalo Higuain announced last week he is calling time on his glittering career.
The Argentinian’s retirement at the end of the current MLS campaign will automatically free up space for the possible arrival of Ronaldo, who is a regular visitor to the Florida area. The one condition to that mega switch is that Miami, coached by Phil Neville, bag Ronaldo, 37, on a free transfer.
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And that might be a stumbling block in the January window – with the United hierarchy seemingly content to keep their veteran hitman for the rest of the season rather than lose him for nothing. They know that even when not playing regularly, Ronaldo remains a huge money-spinner for the club and their commercial partners.
That’s why they refused to sell him in the summer for less than £15m when the likes of Chelsea and Atletico Madrid were leading the chase.
And although that price will now be nearer £10m – with little more than six months left on his United contract – it could well be the same frustrating scenario for Ronaldo come the New Year.
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Ultimately, the decision on when to pull the plug on his disappointing second spell at Old Trafford rests with Reds boss Erik ten Hag. If he feels a sulking Ronaldo is creating a toxic atmosphere inside the dressing room, he may demand his employers get rid of him as soon as possible.
The ex-Juventus and Real Madrid marksman has started only once in the Premier League under the Dutch coach. He is expected to be on the bench again for tomorrow’s trip to Everton.
That failure to win over Ten Hag at club level means Ronaldo’s starting place with his country at the World Cup finals next month is also under threat.
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