Cristiano Ronaldo’s comments after Real Madrid’s 3-0 win over Granada on Sunday, in which he stated
that he was sad and that people at the club knew why, have sparked a frenzy of speculation and conjecture.
It matters little that the 27-year-old still has three years left on his contract – the buy out clause for which
is €1 billion – rumours have abounded that the Portuguese wants to leave the Bernabeu. To that end,
Paddy Power are offering a special book on where the attacker will be playing come the September 1, 2013.
The most likely outcome of course is that he stays in the Spanish capital and he is priced at 1/14 (1.07)
to remain a Madrid player next season.
A romantic return to Manchester United, the side which sold him for a world record €100 million, comes next in the betting available at 10/1 (11.00), while big-spending French side PSG can be backed at 14/1 (15.00).
Should Ronaldo wish to sever any ties he had with United, he could do so by joining arch-rivals Manchester City, and the English champions are offered at 16/1 (17.00) to secure the forward’s services.
Further down in the betting an unlikely move to Barcelona is available at 33/1 (34.00), with Russian side
Anzhi Makhachkala, who have the finances if not the glamour needed to secure Ronaldo’s signature,
offered at the same price.
Finally a return to his boyhood club Sporting Lisbon can be backed at 66/1 (67.00)
Phil Kitromilides is a sports broadcaster working on radio and TV in London and Madrid. You can also follow Phil on Twitter.