Manchester United appear to be desperate to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to the club, but their next best option is him leaving Real Madrid for another club - as they will still benefit.
The Red Devils are continually linked with the player they signed for a dirt-cheap £12.75 million from Sporting CP in 2003, and sold on for a then world-record £80 million after spending six glittering years at United,where Ronaldo lifted three Premier League titles, a Champions League, an FA Cup, two League Cups and a FIFA World Club Cup.
Image: PA
The rumours have popped up again after Ronaldo's intentions of leaving were reported by Portuguese daily A Bola on Friday morning,
The four-time Ballon d'Or winner is said to be unhappy about the way he is being treated, with it all stemming from the ongoing lawsuit from Spanish prosecutors, who claim Ronaldo defrauded the authorities of €14.7 million in a three-year period between 2011 and 2014 in relation to his image rights.
United have placed at the front of the queue for his services, and some reports have suggested that the Red Devils are preparing a mammoth bid for their former No.7.
If Ronaldo does leave Real, United will still gain even if he isn't back tearing it up at Old Trafford next season.
That's because according to AS, United, along with Ronaldo's former clubs Sporting CP and Nacional, all have sell-on clauses which means they take a portion of the transfer fee paid for his next career move.
Image: PA
If the report is true, the 5 per cent due would split as follows: United would receive 2.5 per cent of, Sporting would be due 2.25 per cent, while Nacional receive the smallest amount, that being 0.25 per cent.
Admittedly it's not a significant figure for a club with United's stature, but it certainly could be invested in some way.
As for Nacional, who will play in the second tier of Portuguese football next season after finishing rock bottom in the top flight last term, it could be a very useful bit of cash.
Here is a chart AS have put together in regards to just how much each club could receive:
Do you think Ronaldo will be on the move or will he remain at Real Madrid?
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(h/t 101 Great Goals)
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Manchester United, Sporting CP, Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid