Cristiano Ronaldo has done Real Madrid a massive favour

CARDIFF, WALES - JUNE 03: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his sides third goal during the UEFA Champions League Final between Juventus and Real Madrid at National Stadium of Wales on June 3, 2017 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
CARDIFF, WALES - JUNE 03: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his sides third goal during the UEFA Champions League Final between Juventus and Real Madrid at National Stadium of Wales on June 3, 2017 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) /
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Real Madrid officials are in shock

Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to leave Real Madrid this summer has club officials in shock. Once things settle down, Florentino Perez and company will come to realize that the world-class superstar is saving the club from a world of pain.

The Daily Mail are reporting that Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has already begun taking meetings about his star client. Furthermore, the decorated attacker has already informed officials with his Portuguese national team that his time at Real Madrid has come to an end.

It’s understandable that the news has taken club officials by surprise. After all, Los Blancos are fresh off a Champions League title. No one expected Ronaldo to decide to leave this summer.

In fairness, the player’s tax issues may have a lot to do with his decision. He’s recently become the target of tax evasion charges by the Spanish government. It’s not hard to imagine how such scrutiny from the government might make him want to flee the nation of his employment.

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No matter why Ronaldo wants to leave, it’s not the end of the world for Real Madrid. The reality is that as good a player as Cristiano is, he’s entering the decline of his career. 33-year-old attackers don’t improve. Instead, it’s very likely that his performance will drop off precipitously over the next several seasons.

If Ronaldo wanted to stay at Real Madrid for the next two or three seasons the club would be under immense fan pressure to keep him. Even worse, manager Zinedine Zidane would feel compelled by supporters to keep him in the starting XI. That could become a nightmare scenario for the La Liga giants.

Just imagine Ronaldo desperately trying to hold onto his place in the starting XI against elite youngsters. Every year talents like Kylian Mbappe would arrive at the Spanish capital only to be blocked by an aging Ronaldo. He certainly doesn’t strike me as the sort of person who would step aside gracefully.

Now, instead of fighting that awkward battle, Real Madrid officials can sell Ronaldo for a massive fee this summer. It’s likely their last chance to really garner a massive transfer fee for their Portuguese star. Rich clubs like PSG will line up to add the superstar to their ranks. It’s possible that Real Madrid will receive a large enough transfer fee to fund several key summer acquisitions.

Next: Real Madrid striker prefers Arsenal move over Liverpool transfer

If Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Real Madrid this summer it’s going to be a massive blow for the club’s passionate fan base. Fortunately, it’ll be a blessing in disguise for club officials.