Real Madrid are “thinking twice” about selling star man Cristiano Ronaldo this summer and may offer the forward a new deal, according to Sky Sports’ Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.
Madrid have been trying to find a buyer for the Portugal international, whose contract at the Bernabeu runs until the end of June 2018.
Ronaldo, 31, has been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain and his agent, Jorge Mendes, “has an agreement in place for his client to join the Ligue 1 champions next season”, according to Balague.
However, Real are believed to be having second thoughts about offloading a player who has just finished the season with 50 goals in all competitions for the sixth campaign in a row.
And Los Blancos could opt to hand Ronaldo a contract extension.
“There is a situation in the transfer market,” Balague told Revista Bitesize’s 2015/16 season review.
“Man City have to renew their squad, Man Utd have to renew their squad, Chelsea have to renew their squad, Barcelona have to make changes, Real Madrid have to bring in new blood.
“And there’s not enough players. There’s money, but not enough players. All of a sudden, they may probably think twice about getting rid of Cristiano.
“There is [Robert] Lewandowski, who they could replace him with, but who else is there out there?
“Nobody out there has risen to that level that you think they will be as good as Cristiano Ronaldo soon.”
“Real have gone from putting a price for Ronaldo to now thinking that there is no clear replacement in the market.
“Cristiano has been thinking all season this is his last at Madrid and even his house was put up for rent.
“As a consequence of the lack of alternatives in the market, Real might offer Ronaldo a new contract.”
Sky Sports’ Spanish football expert Terry Gibson, meanwhile, believes it is vital Madrid keep Ronaldo at the Bernabeu next season after his impressive campaign in front of goal.
Gibson, though, also recognises it is a tricky choice for Real to make given the Portuguese’s age and desire now to play solely as a frontman.
“No player should be allowed to leave a club if he is scoring over 50 goals a season,” said Gibson.
“The issue for [Real head coach Zinedine] Zidane is where you play him, if you build a team around him.
“I hate to say it, but he is now just a goalscorer. He is now almost a full centre forward. I think it’s important they keep him, but I do understand the business perspective of it.
“He’s in his 30s now, there is probably one last chance to get another club on his CV for a massive transfer fee. That’s the huge decision for Real Madrid.
“They are running out of time if they want to achieve a big transfer fee for him, but at the same time they will be looking around thinking he’s got 50 goals again.
“It’s a big decision for Real. There aren’t many about where Real can just get the money for Ronaldo and replace him.”
SKYSPORTS
