Real Madrid have been in the market looking for Cristiano Ronaldo’s replacement. While a few in-house names have been backed to take over, the club is interested in the Manchester City star.
Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo went their own ways this summer. The Portugal international left for Juventus as he bid farewell to the place where he won several awards during his time. While Ronaldo did seal a fantastic move for him to one of the world’s biggest clubs, there is a big void to fill at Real Madrid.
Florentino Perez is a huge of Neymar since his time at Paris Saint-Germain, but a move does not look likely in the next one or two years at least, unless the Madrid president can weave his magic in the transfer window. As per latest rumours from Spanish daily AS, the Whites have shortlisted Raheem Sterling as their prime target.
The Manchester City winger was instrumental for Pep Guardiola’s side last season which finished with 100 points in the Premier League. Sterling scored 23 goals in 46 matches. Since then, contract talks between him and the Citizens have stalled. The 23 year old is demanded a salary of nearly 200,000 pounds per week to match Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne, however, City’s directors are reluctant in paying him that much.
With less than two years left on his contract with the defending Premier League champions, Sterling is looking for a move amid failure of reaching a contractual agreement. Real Madrid have been credited with interest, but it does not look like the move will be sealed before this August’s deadline day.
According to some claims, the European champions will send representatives to watch Sterling play when England and Spain face off in the UEFA Nation’s League which kicks off in September. The former Liverpool striker is very likely to be in action and of course, will try and impress the club’s hierarchy with a good performance.
Also, there is reason for high hope for Real Madrid since Pep Guardiola has also conceded to the fact that he might lose his star man next summer. “It’s clear since the first day I arrived we want him, but the deals are the deals, and the agents are the agents, and the players are the players,” said the ex-Barcelona coach.
“So, at the end, I don’t know what is going to happen, but I assure you 100 per cent that the club, myself like a manager, sport director, even his team-mates – we want him to stay longer here.”
So far in the summer, there has been no effort on Real Madrid’s part to sign a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo but former star Mariano Diaz could sign for them within the next few hours. Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale have been pretty good as well since the start of the new season and the Madridistas will be hoping that they can carry their form throughout.