The daily paper claims that the four-time Ballon d’Or winner has a number of suitors including Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and sides in China. It is not as if Ronaldo needs the money.
The 32-year-old Madeira born superstar, with estimated earnings of €83m in 2016, has retained top spot as the world’s highest-paid athlete as Forbes released its annual ranking of the world’s one hundred highest-paid athletes. At the moment, the only place Ronaldo is going is Russia where Portugal will be competing in the FIFA Confederations Cup.
Hosts Russia are joined by Germany, who won the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Australia (Asia Confederation), Chile (South America), Mexico (North, Central America and Caribbean), New Zealand (Oceania Confederation), Portugal (European Champions) and Cameroon (Africa).
Russia, New Zealand, Mexico and Portugal are in Group A.
The tournament gets underway in St Petersburg on 17 June when Russia play New Zealand. Portugal, who 70 years ago lost 10-0 to England in Lisbon with Stan Mortensen and Tommy Lawton scoring four each, have come a long way in world football and must be ranked as one of the favourites for this global festival of football.
On Sunday 18 June Portugal take on Mexico in Kazan before flying west to meet Russia in Moscow three days later. Their final group game is in St Petersburg on 24 June against New Zealand. Apart from Ronaldo, the Portuguese squad includes four players with British clubs: 35-year-old defender Bruno Alves (Glasgow Rangers), José Fonte (West Ham), Cedric Soares (Southampton) and 22-year-old Bernardo Silva, who recently joined Manchester City from Monaco for €50m.
Silva joined Monaco from Benfica two years ago for €15.75m but was left out of Portugal’s victorious Euro 2016 squad last summer. Following recent terrorist attacks around the world, Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has signed a decree restricting public gatherings and the use of air space and waterways during the tournament.
It has also been reported by Reuters that ticket holders for the Confederation Cup will be required to apply for a personalised ID that ensures fans are screened. Foreigners will also have to register within a day of arriving in Russia.