After what could be compared as a divorce between Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid, the player and the club could cross paths once again after a recent turn of events.
According to a report issued by Spanish TV show El Chiringuito, which was also followed up by Marca, the player's entourage led by Jorge Mendes had a first approach with Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez about a potential move. While there were no negotiations between the parties, it was a meeting to declare each party's intentions which had "positive" results for CR7's camp.
It is no secret that life fro Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus has not been as initially expected. The player thrived in the Italian Serie A and Coppa Italia, two tournaments he has won with the bianconeri, but his pending issue with the Italian club is the UEFA Champions League. Three early exits from the tournament, and the last two in the Round of 16, have seen the Portuguese footballer take the heat from fans and experts in Italy.
Furthermore, his massive wage makes it harder for Juventus to keep him around without European tournament success. Hence, Juventus could be looking for a way to offload the player, and CR7 would also be keen on leaving the club after three years of disappointments in the continental competition.
Now, over to Real Madrid. Los Blancos struggled during their first season without CR7, especially after being slammed by Ajax in the UEFA Champions League. Their trophy-less season right after Cristiano left caused Zidane's return, and with the Frenchman at the helm, the team won two more titles. This year, the Spanish giants are still in contention to win La Liga and the UCL, but they have never been able to replace Cristiano's numbers in front of goal.
For those who believe that the relationship between the player and Real Madrid's hierarchy is frozen since 2018, there is a fact that should be kept under consideration. CR7 buried the hatchet with Florentino Pérez one year after he left, and he even attended the Spanish Clásico at the Bernabéu on March 1, 2020, the last game played at Real Madrid's stadium before the pandemic. So, if negotiations were to move on forward, there would be no hard feelings between Florentino and the footballer.
Last, but not least, Zinedine Zidane addressed the issue in today's press conference, and while he tried to be cautious on this matter, his reply hints that a return for the top scorer in Real Madrid's history cannot be ruled out.
"There's a lot of talk going around. You know what Cristiano means for Real Madrid, what he's done here and the love we all have for him. What he did here is pure history, it was magnificent. But right now, I believe he is doing a great job at Juventus. We will have to wait and see," Zidane stated.
With three months left in the season, and with Juventus struggling to find their feet under Pirlo, it would not be a surprise to see CR7 leave the club before the start of the 2021-22 campaign. His contract with the bianconeri expires next summer, which means that Juve will have to part ways with him this summer if they want to cash in on his move. Will they negotiate with Real Madrid? In Zidane's words, we will have to wait and see.
