5 clubs Cristiano Ronaldo could join after Juventus

Real Madrid v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Final
Real Madrid v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Final

After three prolific campaigns with Juventus, there has been much speculation over Cristiano Ronaldo's future in Italy. The Portuguese superstar moved to the Allianz Stadium after winning his fourth UEFA Champions League title with Real Madrid for a club-record fee of €117m in 2018.

While he's continued to score goals in abundance in Serie A, much like he has in the Premier League and LaLiga Santander, Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to propel his team to UEFA Champions League glory.

With 134 goals to his name, Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time top-scorer in the competition, and he's won the UCL five times, once with Manchester United and the other four with Real Madrid. The Bianconeri had hoped that replicate this impact in Turin, but Juventus' last few campaigns have been beyond disappointing.

In 2020/21, they were knocked out by FC Porto in the Round of 16 in a thrilling eight-goal tie, which was the third successive time they bowed out of the competition prior to the semi-finals. Cristiano Ronaldo's men were knocked out by Olympique Lyon at the same stage last year while being eliminated by AFC Ajax the year before.

With Juventus currently on course to miss out on the Scudetto for the first time in nine years and fighting for UCL qualification for next season, rumours suggest Cristiano Ronaldo is considering an exit from the club after a relatively unsuccessful stay in Turin. On that note, here are five clubs the five-time Ballon d'Or winner could potentially move to should he leave Juventus.


5 Potential destinations for Cristiano Ronaldo


#5 Inter Miami | Major League Soccer

Inter Miami CF Media Availability & Training Session
Inter Miami CF Media Availability & Training Session

Major League Soccer has long been the destination for high-profile players to wind down their careers. The league has already been graced by the likes of Steven Gerrard, Andrea Pirlo, David Villa, and other players, including Cristiano Ronaldo's former teammates Luis Nani and Javier Hernandez. The Portuguese could potentially follow suit and could join another ex-teammate's venture, Inter Miami.

David Beckham has been vocal about the possibility of landing the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the past, saying;

"When we announced Miami, there was always going to be talk about what players we were going to bring in, whether it was [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Leo] Messi, Neymar. There was always going to be those discussions. I actually don't think it's a tough one for players to decide, to be honest, because it's a great place. Miami is a city that has that pull on players who have been playing in Europe that are big stars."

Even Messi previously expressed his desire to move to the MLS one day, which could pave the way for the two iconic superstars rekindling their rivalry in the United States. It is important to note that Inter Miami is currently under the management of one of Cristiano Ronaldo's former teammates, Phil Neville.


#4 Sporting CP | Primera Liga

UEFA Champions League Group F: Manchester United v Sporting Lisbon
UEFA Champions League Group F: Manchester United v Sporting Lisbon

Cristiano Ronaldo spent just a year of his professional career with Sporting, but he was part of their prestigious academy where he spent six years as a teenager. It was during his time at Sporting that he garnered Manchester United's attention, with the Red Devils making him one of the most expensive teenagers in world football.

Amidst rumours of Cristiano Ronaldo's exit from Juventus, a few reports suggested he could take a pay-cut to return to his boyhood club. These suggestions were further sparked by his mother, Dona Dolores Aveiro, who was spotted celebrating the Leoes' win with a Sporting shirt that had Cristiano's name and his iconic number seven on the back.

While the 36-year-old might have to take a massive pay cut to return to his old stomping grounds, Ruben Amorim's men appear to be heading for their first league title in two decades and could automatically qualify for the UCL — making them a very attractive destination for Cristiano Ronaldo.


Also check out the list of all Ronaldo's teams till date.

#3 Real Madrid | LaLiga Santander

Real Madrid CF v FC Bayern Muenchen - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final: Second Leg
Real Madrid CF v FC Bayern Muenchen - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final: Second Leg

It was at Real Madrid that Cristiano Ronaldo went from being one of the best players in the world to one of the best to have ever played the sport. The Portuguese striker's move to the Spanish capital from Manchester United is widely regarded as one of the most game-changing transfers football has ever witnessed.

During his nine-year stay at the club, the 36-year-old made a total of 438 appearances across all competitions and scored a staggering 450 goals, the highest tally by any Real Madrid player in history. He fired the club to four UEFA Champions Leagues, two LaLiga Santander titles, and won four of his five Ballons d'Or with Los Blancos.

There has been speculation regarding a homecoming for Cristiano Ronaldo at the Santiago Bernabeu over the last couple of months, and head coach Zinedine Zidane was also cryptic when asked about the Portuguese's return.

Although Florentino Perez has confirmed that they are not working on a transfer for him, the Blancos could still go back in for him should they miss out on Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland this summer as a short-term solution to bolster their attack. Stranger things have happened in the sport.


#2 Manchester United | Premier League

Porto v Manchester United - UEFA Champions League
Porto v Manchester United - UEFA Champions League

It has long been speculated that Cristiano Ronaldo could return to the Premier League one day. The Portuguese arrived at Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon as a wiry teenager with immense potential, and it was at Old Trafford that he established himself as one of the best players in world football.

Cristiano Ronaldo formed an incredible partnership with the likes of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, and other forwards during his time at the club and exploded onto the European football stage with his goalscoring heroics. He scored a stunning 42 goals to fire Red Devils to Premier League and UCL glory in 2007/08, which is regarded as one of the best campaigns of his career, and he won the was subsequently awarded the Ballon d'Or.

Overall, he scored 118 times and set up a further 69 goals in 292 appearances for Sir Alex Ferguson's men. Considered one of the best players to have played for the club in their rich history, the possibility of a return to Old Trafford — where he spent six glorious years — can never be ruled out.

With Edinson Cavani appearing likely to depart the club this summer, Manchester United could be in the market for a new centre-forward, and Cristiano Ronaldo could prove to be a superb short-term option to give them some goalscoring pedigree upfront. The Red Devils have nearly sealed UCL qualification for the coming season as well, giving CR7 one more shot at the title.


#1 Paris Saint-Germain | Ligue 1

Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain - UEFA Champions League Round of 16: First Leg
Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain - UEFA Champions League Round of 16: First Leg

In every aspect, PSG appear to be the logical next step for Cristiano Ronaldo should he depart from Juventus.

The Parisiens are, perhaps, one of the only few clubs in the world that could afford him. Sure, the likes of Sporting and Inter Miami might not be able to afford his full salary either and will need the 36-year-old to take a pay cut. At the highest level of football in Europe's top five leagues, however, PSG are one of the only few clubs who can commit to paying the Portuguese's massive €30m-a-season wages.

Apart from the financial aspect, he would be playing in a side with a great pedigree as PSG reached the UCL finals last year and are among the final four of the competition this year. He could potentially line up alongside Brazilian superstar Neymar, Marco Verratti, his former teammate Angel Di Maria, and play under one of the most impressive coaches in Europe, Mauricio Pochettino.

The move could make sense for all parties involved, given Real Madrid's well-documented interest in Kylian Mbappe. Should the Frenchman follow in Cristiano Ronaldo's footsteps and move to Spain, CR7 could be a ready-made replacement for Mbappe in Paris. Reports have already suggested in the past that a move to Paris could be on the cards, with Mauco Icardi going to Juventus in the process.

Most importantly, both Cristiano Ronaldo and PSG share the same core desire: to win the UEFA Champions League. And based on the last few campaigns, PSG are in better shape to compete for the title than Juventus, which could make this the most beneficial move for all parties involved. He's won league titles in three countries already, and could make it a fourth before hanging his boots up.


Also read: 5 Football superstars who picked Cristiano Ronaldo over Lionel Messi

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Edited by Sai Teja