Florentino Perez says wantaway ace Cristiano Ronaldo is free to join Manchester United — if they pay £880MILLION release clause
Four-time Ballon d'Or-winner is understood to have taken 'irreversible decision', but will struggle to leave for that price
FLORENTINO PEREZ insists Cristiano Ronaldo is free to leave Real Madrid — if a club is ready to pay his whopping £880MILLION release clause.
The four-time Ballon d’Or-winner is believed to want to leave the Bernabeu following a traumatic summer.
And, speaking about the reports for the first time since they emerged, Florentino Perez told Spanish radio station, : “I haven’t spoken to Cristiano since the Champions League final — I heard the rumours through the media.
“But, his contract is £880m.
“So, unless a club is ready to pay that, he won’t be leaving.”
Perez, who has been re-elected as Real Madrid president for an historic fifth time, insists he intends to resolve the situation with Ronaldo.
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The 32-year-old has been charged with defrauding the Spanish government of £13m in unpaid tax — and he is thought to be unhappy at the lack of protection from the club.
But Perez has rejected this accusation.
He added: "Cristiano is a good man and he is being made to look like a criminal.
"I will speak to him after the Confederations Cup.
"I don't think he is annoyed at us, I think he is annoyed at the general situation."
There were reports Real Madrid would be ready to pay the amount in order to keep Ronaldo at the club, but Perez has dismissed this notion, claiming it's not what the player would want.
United are also said to be in for Alvaro Morata but Perez claims they have received no offers.
Perez was asked about the possibility of Cristiano Ronaldo leaving, and he told Spanish radio station, : “We haven’t received offers for anyone this summer.
“Not Cristiano, not Morata — not James [Rodriguez].”