The Real Reason Why Cristiano Ronaldo Left Real Madrid For Juventus

Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer from Real Madrid to Juventus was a summer move that most people would never have expected to take place.

Los Blancos' former talisman was linked with an exit from the club almost every season in recent memory, but it happened for real this time.

It looks like there was a big reason for why club president Florentino Pérez had to sanction the deal.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Madrid had to part ways with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner and self-proclaimed GOAT because of the financial burden it would have placed on the club.

"Without his €100 million sale to Juventus, which also wiped out his €42 million annual wages, Madrid would be posting an €87 million loss rather than a €43 million profit," the Telegraph's Sam Wallace wrote.

"The accounting impact of replacing Ronaldo with the Dominican Republic striker Mariano, re-signed from Lyon, is €96 million: Mariano cost €20 million, spread over five years, making his book cost this year just €4 million.

"He earns €34 million annually less than Ronaldo, altogether lifting €130 million off the costs."

So, that puts that issue to bed, right?

Most football fans wanted to know why Madrid would honestly allow the Portuguese forward to leave in the same year that Zinedine Zidane left as manager.

Pérez, however, has said that the Juventus star would return to the club at some point in the future.

"I would have given him a hug [if he had attended FIFA's The Best awards] because, as I said [on Sunday], the Real Madrid fans are very proud to have counted with Cristiano for nine seasons," he told El Chiringuito (via ESPN).

"He is the worthy successor of Alfredo Di Stéfano, he is the player who has scored more goals in the history of Madrid and I think that he is one of those players who will be in the hearts of the Real Madrid fans and will [be remembered] from generation to generation.

"He is one of those that one day will come back."

Do you think Madrid should have sold Ronaldo?

Let us know in the comments.

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Topics: SPORT, Football News, Football, Serie A, Transfers, Man utd, Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid, La Liga

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_