Cristiano Ronaldo blocks Real Madrid from signing £89million striker
If there are doubts that Cristiano Ronaldo is still the main man at Real Madrid, reports in Don Balon this week that the 32 year-old star has blocked the club from signing an £89million striker have put them to rest.
According to the Spanish source, Ronaldo was not happy with the club’s plans to sign Mauro Icardi from Inter and has subsequently told club officials not to proceed with a move.
Los Blancos are looking for a new striker – either to replace or provide back-up to Karim Benzema – after selling Alvaro Morata and Mariano Diaz during the summer.
Icardi is a name that had been mentioned and has an £89million release clause in his contract, but Ronaldo supposedly isn’t convinced.
Having played alongside Karim Benzema for eight years, he does not want to jeopardise the Frenchman’s place in the line-up.
Also, Icardi is a former Barcelona youth player and plays alongside Lionel Messi for Argentina. After the match against Ecuador last month, he called Messi “the greatest in history, without doubt”.
It’s hard to believe that a reason so petty could really influence Ronaldo’s thinking, but Icardi does have a history of scandals and his bad-boy reputation suggest that he could be trouble in the dressing room.
The Portuguese star was back on target last night, putting his La Liga troubles behind him with two goals in Madrid’s 6-0 Champions League success over APOEL. Benzema was also on target.
Cristiano Ronaldo blocks Real Madrid from signing £89million striker
Read more about Real Madrid and La Liga
- Real Madrid Salaries 2017 (Weekly Wages)
- Real Madrid Squad, Team, All Players 2017/18
- Highest Paid Footballers In Spain 2017
- FC Barcelona Players Salaries 2017 (Weekly Wages)
- Barcelona Squad, Team, All Players 2017/2018
- Atletico Madrid Players Salaries 2017 (Weekly Wages)
- Atletico Madrid Squad, Team, All Players 2017/2018
Read more about Real Madrid at realmadrid.com.
