Cristiano Ronaldo has received an offer from the Australian top flight amid his uncertain future at Manchester United.
It has been an interesting week, to say the least, for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who has revealed some 'home truths' to TalkTV host Piers Morgan in several bombshell interviews.
Earlier this week, he said Ralf Rangnick 'wasn't even a coach' in a scathing assessment of United's former interim manager and recently, Ronaldo named just three Manchester United players as "top professionals".
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It looks increasingly likely that the 37-year-old will leave Old Trafford next year.
It was revealed this week that Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes held talks with Bayern Munich last week ahead of the January transfer window.
And now, it has emerged Mendes has received an offer of 'love and respect' from the A-League.
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Danny Townsend, who is the A-League's chief executive officer, confirmed to Australian media on Thursday that he has been in touch with Ronaldo's agent over a potential move and they are currently in "dialogue".
He said: "(Ronaldo) said he wasn't getting any love and respect at Manchester United but we'll certainly give him plenty of love and respect in Australia.
"We might not be able to compete financially with other offers but we can compete in other ways."
Townsend also told radio station SportsFM of his plans, saying: "Obviously it's a long shot but we've certainly got a compelling proposition for him here in Australia to consider."
Earlier this year, Ronaldo's former teammate Nani signed for A-League club Melbourne Victory in a deal which will keep him at AAMI Park until the end of the 2023/24 season.
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A four-time Premier League winner with almost 150 Manchester United appearances under his belt, he was delighted to join the Australian club.
“I have spoken with the coach, and I know that Melbourne Victory is a club that wants to achieve success and I want to play a role in helping the team achieve that,” Nani said.
“From what I have seen, the fans in Melbourne are not only the best in the league but they rival the atmosphere in Europe and I’m looking forward to being a part of that on the field in a Victory shirt and playing for them this season.”
As Townsend pointed out to the media this week, the A-League may not be able to compete financially with other offers but the league has attracted some recognisable names, including Charlie Austin, Joe Lolley and of course, Nani.
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Thoughts on the A-League's offer to Ronaldo?
Let us know in the comments.
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United, Nani, A League
Jack Kenmare