According to sources, Cristiano Ronaldo plans to spend two years at his old club Sporting CP before retiring. When his contract at Juventus ends in 2022, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner wants to make an emotional return to the club he played for as a youth.
According to Italian journalist Claudio Raimondi, Ronaldo wants to ‘break his cycle’. With the Serie A club before returning to Portugal.
“Ronaldo has an idea for his future that we are going to show here first hand. He needs to finish his cycle at Juventus and then play for Sporting for two years. Cristiano does not want to leave Juventus; however, he wishes to fulfill his deal, which expires in 2022. There is little possibility of a return to Spain or Real Madrid. Manchester United lacks the financial resources to make such a move. There are no conditions for Ronaldo to leave Juventus. Particularly given his circumstances and ties to his sponsors,” Raimondi said on the ‘Pressing’ program on Italian TV Sport Mediaset.
Ronaldo’s return to the Estádio José Alvalade has long been speculated.
Dolores Aveiro, Ronaldo’s mum, was seen in a video earlier this year carrying a Sporting shirt with her son’s name and number on the back.
The Aveiros, who are big Sporting supporters, was watching the team’s 1-0 victory over Tondela in the Primeira Liga when the video went viral.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo was honored by Sporting CP in September of last year, when the Portuguese club renamed their academy after him.
“It is with much honor that Sporting Clube de Portugal announces the renaming of the Clube Academy to Academia Cristiano Ronaldo,” read a statement.
“The house that made Cristiano Ronaldo now welcomes his name in honor. The one who became the greatest Portuguese player of all time. The best player in the world was awarded the Ballon d’Or five times. He captained the national team to European Championship and Nations League glory. The Academy will thus immortalize the name of the greatest emblem ever created. It will serve as an inspiration to all the young talents. The club will hold its official inauguration on a date to be decided, as soon as conditions permit.”
Ronaldo rose through the ranks at the Lisbon-based club after joining at the age of 12. Making 31 first-team starts before being picked up by Manchester United for £12.24 million.
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