Cristiano Ronaldo threatens to QUIT Real Madrid if they sign Eden Hazard or Antoine Griezmann – as he outlines demands for rebuild
Star player has the ear of club president Florentino Perez and said to have a voice and vote in transfer policy
CRISTIANO RONALDO has threatened to QUIT Real Madrid over their transfer policy, according to reports in Spain.
The Portuguese star does not want Los Blancos to sign either Eden Hazard or Antoine Griezmann - in case they steal his limelight.
Despite Real Madrid being top of La Liga and in the quarter-final of the Champions League, club president Florentino Perez and manager Zinedine Zidane are looking at the longer term future of the squad.
Ronaldo is already 32 and key players Sergio Ramos and Luka Modrid are both 31, while experienced defender Pepe will leave the club this summer.
But despite his advancing years, Ronaldo still has massive sway at the club with Spanish newspaper claiming he has a voice and even veto power in transfer policy.
They report that:
- Ronaldo wants a new goalkeeper to replace Keylor Navas, with David De Gea or Thibaut Courtois the top two choices
- A new partner for skipper Sergio Ramos - Pepe's time has passed and Raphael Varane and Nacho are too inexperienced to be regulars
- A new playmaker that will help Ronaldo in his older years. Monaco star Bernardo Silva is the man mentioned
- The report says Ronaldo no longer wants to play alongside Karim Benzema and would prefer a more direct No 9
- Ronaldo is said to have given the green light to moves for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Paulo Dybala, Moussa Dembele or Kylian Mbappe
- Most importantly, Ronaldo does not want to 'share his crown' with Antoine Griezmann or Eden Hazard and has threatened to quit the Bernabeu if they are signed
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Chelsea star Hazard has long been linked with a move to Real Madrid with a world record fee of £100million mooted in recent weeks.
There have been conflicting noises about whether the Belgian would want to move to Spain - Hazard has previously said his family is settled in London but the lure of Los Blancos may be too much.
Griezmann has become a target after a stunning trio of seasons at the Vicente Calderon.
The French striker has 70 goals in 148 matches for Los Rojiblancos but may not want to leave for their local rivals.
Manchester United are also chasing hard for his signature.