Cristiano Ronaldo Says All Options Open When Considering His Future

Source: thewillnigeria.com

Cristiano Ronaldo is keeping his options open and says not even a move to Barcelona would be off the table.

The Real Madrid star conceded it would be “very complicated” to play for a rival of his current or former club, Manchester United, but the forward, who once again confirmed his intention to honour his Real contract, refused to rule out Barca or Manchester City as options further down the line.

“There are things that you kind of already have an idea, that to play one day for Barcelona would be almost impossible, or to play for another English club other than Manchester [United], it’s very complicated,” Ronaldo told the Associated Press.

“But that’s not 100 per cent guaranteed. As I said before, there are no certainties in football. Everything is open, all leagues.

“I may end my career here with Real Madrid. I’m just being honest. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. If I was 75 per cent certain, I would say so, it wouldn’t be a problem. But I have no idea.”

Ronaldo is under contract at the Bernabeu until 2018, by which time he will be 33, and while he has been linked with a late career move to Major League Soccer, it’s not something he is considering in the short term.

“Right now, I don’t see myself playing in the American league, but that’s right now,” he continued. “In two or three years I may think differently.”

Several reports on Ronaldo’s future, and a possible summer departure, were prompted by his brief sideline meeting with PSG coach Laurent Blanc after a Champions League meeting at the Bernabeu in November. He has subsequently been linked with a move to PSG and a return to Manchester United, but Ronaldo downplayed the chances of an immediate switch.

“When it’s closer to ending my contract I’m going to have to make decisions, whether it’s staying at Real Madrid or going to another club or ending my career in a few years,” Ronaldo said.

“It’s normal. That’s why I’m not worried, because I know that everything has a beginning and everything has an end. I’m ready for that. I’m ready to stay at Real Madrid, to leave, to end my career when it’s time. It’s part of my job.”

The Portugal star, voted the best player in the world three times, is once again a candidate for the Ballon d’Or, along with Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Neymar. It is Messi who is the favourite to win this year, and Ronaldo says whoever takes the prize will be a deserving victor.

“Obviously, I don’t have control over who wins it,” Ronaldo said. “It’s not like the Golden Boot, which is based on statistics.

“This one is about votes, so it’s harder. Sometimes people don’t look at what you did in the past, just what you are doing now, so it’s very complicated.

“I don’t think it would be a surprise if I won it, I personally had an excellent season. In terms of numbers, this was my best season. But it wasn’t in terms of titles, for sure. Whoever wins it will be a deserving winner.”

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