Friday 22 April 2016 21:06, UK
Real Madrid have tried to find a buyer for Cristiano Ronaldo all season, and now have a decision to make as to whether to offer him a new contract, says Guillem Balague.
Ronaldo's contract runs out in the summer of 2018, and the Portuguese forward has been constantly linked with a move away from the Bernabeu in the British and Spanish press.
He became Real's all-time leading goalscorer in October, but Balague revealed in his weekly Sky Sports Q&A session that the La Liga side have received no offers, despite links to PSG and Manchester United.
Balague said: "Real Madrid has tried all season to find a club that would buy him. Ronaldo has also toyed with the idea, no argument about it.
"But no club, not Manchester United, who have never been that interested, and not PSG, who have met the player five times but consider him still too expensive, have put an offer on the table.
"So, Real, with the FIFA ban affecting their decisions, have got two options. They either sell him cheaply, or renew his contract. Real offered two more years, but he wants three.
"What I see is a player that physically has peaked but is still the best goalscorer ever. The problem is he affects other players' decisions.
"For instance, would Gareth Bale want to be at Real another two years with Ronaldo next to him? Is Robert Lewandowski thinking about a move to Real Madrid because of the potential continuity of Ronaldo?"
Ronaldo has scored 47 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions for the club this season, and suffered a thigh muscle injury in the 3-0 win over Villarreal on Wednesday.
Real Madrid have given no indication if he will be fit for their Champions League clash with Manchester City on Tuesday, but Balague says he should have recovered for the crucial semi-final first-leg clash, and insists the 31-year-old should manage his playing time so that he is fit for the entire season.
"Cristiano has got muscle tiredness. That means there is no tear and that he will miss the Rayo game on Saturday but will be OK for Man City.
"Sergio Ramos said last night he should start thinking of not playing every single minute. He is not superman and has peaked physically but still is the best goalscorer ever. And an ambitious so and so.
"Zidane has admitted it is very difficult to tell him not to play, but monsieur, that is your job if you want him to be at his best at the end of the season."
