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The frenzied Madridistas were in a mad rush having won their 13th Champions League this Saturday evening, but their delirium was toned down by a bombshell from Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 33-year-old Portuguese fueled speculation by casting doubts on his Real Madrid future after winning his fifth Champions League title.
"We will talk in the future. It's been really beautiful to play for Real Madrid. I'll give a response in the coming days," Ronaldo told beIN SPORTS.
The buzzworthy statement was not very well-received by Real Madrid fans, who were left stupefied by their club's sensation.
With the transfer market in full swing and high-profile clubs willing to grab the headlines with their big-money moves, it appears that Ronaldo might be bidding adieu to his prestigious nine-year spell at Los Blancos imminently.
On that note, let us take a look at 5 possible destinations for the Portuguese.
#5 Chinese Super League
The Chinese Super League has taken the football world by storm in the past couple of seasons with their mega-money transfers. This saw a sudden inrush of big names including the likes of Hulk, Oscar, Carlos Tevez, Ramires, Paulinho and many others.
Cristiano Ronaldo could be just another notable included in the aforementioned list. The Portuguese has achieved virtually all the individual trophies which means falling off the radar would be something he can compensate for a high-paying job.
Ronaldo has already been reported to possess an interest in the Chinese Super League before and with his Real Madrid career drawing to a close, he might be interested in a lucrative move to Asia, which could also potentially boost his brand recognition in the continent.
#4 MLS
Major League Soccer (MLS) is quite notable for scooping up ageing footballing legends. The league has welcomed icons such as Andrea Pirlo, David Villa, Thierry Henry, Kaka, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and most recently, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The former Galactico, David Beckham, was also part of the MLS' side, LA Galaxy, after leaving Real Madrid in 2007. He stayed at the club for six years before moving to Paris Saint-Germain in 2013.
Cristiano Ronaldo could most likely take inspiration from the Englishman and move to North America after ending his stint at Real Madrid.
#3 Sporting CP
Another contender in the list is Ronaldo's boyhood club, Sporting CP.
We have already seen the likes of Fernando Torres, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and a number of other players returning to their boyhood clubs after spending a good part of their career elsewhere. This could be the case for Cristiano Ronaldo too.
Sporting is where it all began for the Portuguese. He was promoted from the club's youth team at the age of 16 and soon became part of the first-team, making his debut in the Primera Liga in 2002.
It was in August 2003 when Ronaldo awed the Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, after Sporting overcame The Red Devils in Lisbon. He moved to Old Trafford that summer for €19m.
The 33-year-old is still revered at his former Portuguese club and reportedly, wants to return to Sporting one day.
However, the astronomical fee required for Ronaldo's signing could be an impediment to the transfer.
#2 Paris Saint-Germain
The last summer transfer window was all about one club, Paris Saint-Germain. The eye-watering transfers of Neymar and Mbappe were the major talking points that invited interminable discussion.
The club saw massive success domestically this year, clinching Ligue 1 and Coupe de France titles. However, their UEFA Champions League campaign was remarkably underwhelming as they were ruled out of the competition in the Round of 16 by Real Madrid.
The Ligue 1 champions stand a good chance of signing Cristiano Ronaldo due to their bankable financial support and the triumph the club has achieved of late. The PSG president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, would patently not let go of the golden opportunity as he aspire to bolster his squad for the forthcoming campaign.
#1 Manchester United
Quite predictable, wasn't it?
After all, it's The Red Devils and Sir Alex Ferguson who are to be held accountable for Ronaldo's ineffable success in the football world.
The Portuguese international joined Manchester United in August 2003. He played at the club for six consecutive years before moving to Spanish capital in 2009 for a then world-record transfer fee, €94 million.
His six-year stint saw him develop into one of the most celebrated players in Premier League history. He inspired the club to 3 successive Premier League titles, an FA Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup and a UEFA Champions League.
Cristiano Ronaldo is engraved in the hearts of Manchester United fans who still crave to watch him play at the Old Trafford once again.
Ronaldo has long been linked to his former Manchester club, who are entangled in an intense pursuit of the Portuguese's signature.
The switch seems odds-on with the 33-year-old already having the experience of playing under Jose Mourinho, who is now at loggerheads with the former Barcelona manager, Pep Guardiola.
