Cristiano Ronaldo question could be resolved in January

During an atypical football season when the World Cup is being played in winter, at least some things will remain the same. The domestic and continental calendar in Europe may have been shuffled around, fixtures rescheduled to accommodate the flagship international tournament in Qatar, although nothing will stand between clubs and their traditional winter business.

The 2022-23 winter transfer window is going to swing open on 1st January 2023, and it will remain open until 11pm GMT on 31st January 2023, allowing European club sides to freshen their squads and get rid of players deemed surplus to requirements. Potentially one of the biggest moves could involve Cristiano Ronaldo, who has become increasingly unsettled at Manchester United.

Amidst growing friction having returned late for pre-season, Ronaldo was already looking to engineer his Old Trafford exit last summer, although that provide to be a surprisingly frustrating experience. Despite all the accolades the Portuguese superstar has earned in football, there was a telling lack of interest from leading continental clubs. Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Napoli all rejected the opportunity.

Indeed, the only genuine offer came from Saudi Arabia, when the Daily Mail reported that Al-Hilal SFC offered Ronaldo a remarkable deal worth £210 million, only for that approach to collapse. Their club president insists a deal had been agreed in principle with the player, who was apparently happy with the terms on offer, although the move could not be completed because of a transfer ban on the Saudi side.

In the meantime, certain incidents involving Ronaldo have only made matters worse. Joining pre-season training later than all the other players, then leaving a friendly match before the final whistle, those were hardly ways to endear himself to the new Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag. The Dutch coach also suspended Ronaldo, after he refused to come on as a substitute, during the game against Tottenham Hotspur in October.

While the 37-year-old has returned to the fold, he doesn’t command anywhere near the same kind of importance in the side, and has rarely produced the kind of dazzling form we have come to expect over the years. This has only increased speculation that he continues to seek a swift departure, with the January transfer window being the next opportunity, coming almost immediately after he will have played at the 2022 World Cup with Portugal.

Now it appears that Ronaldo has one particular club in mind, having admitted that he would be open to moving from Manchester United to Paris Saint-Germain, after he revealed awareness of interest from the French club. “I know the door is open,” he suggested, in comments highlighted by Spanish outlet Marca. “I see myself playing at the Parc des Princes, in front of 50,000 Portuguese emigrants. It would be fantastic,” enthused Cristiano.

It remains to be seen if such a move is entirely feasible in January, although it does hint at quite a remarkable possibility, and one that football fans have dreamed about for years – the chance to see Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi playing for the same team. Even the slightest hope will capture the imagination, making such a move one of the most appealing in January, providing it actually does happen, of course.

Even with focus on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, some leading bookmakers are already offering markets for potential transfers in January, although punters should always look for the best value odds. This is based upon the latest advice from SBO, whose betting industry experts undertake careful and thorough research, covering all aspects of online sports betting. They only recommend the best options, backed by insights that make a real difference.

As for the chances of Ronaldo landing at PSG, and forging a dream partnership with Messi, there is actually sound reasoning behind such a move happening. The contract of Messi expires next summer, although the Parisian club is obviously keen for him to stay longer, making the potential capture of Cristiano an added incentive. They are also perhaps the only club that could realistically achieve such an incredible pairing.

Finally, there is growing talk that Kylian Mbappe wants to leave PSG, despite signing a massive new deal in the summer and turning his back on Real Madrid, who apparently still remain interested. Securing a January deal to get Ronaldo might soften the blow for supporters, were Mbappe to begin opening negotiations for a move to Spain, which seems the only destination if he chooses to leave the French capital.