Could Cristiano Ronaldo leave Man United for… AUSTRALIA? A-League chief reveals he has made an offer to superstar’s agent Jorge Mendes over a move Down Under and says nation can offer ‘love and respect’ to wantaway star after THAT Piers Morgan interview
A-League boss Danny Townsend has made a bid to lure Cristiano Ronaldo to the Australian top flight, while admitting it might not be able to compete financially with rival offers for the disaffected Manchester United star.
Ronaldo’s future at United is up in the air after he said he felt ‘betrayed’ by the Premier League club and had no respect for its manager Erik ten Hag in an interview with Piers Morgan.
Townsend told Australian media on Thursday that he had made an offer to Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, in case Ronaldo parts ways with United.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been offered an unlikely escape route out of Manchester United
The Portuguese superstar expressed his discontent with the club in a Piers Morgan interview
‘(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,’ Townsend said in comments published by News Corp.
‘We might not be able to compete financially with other offers but we can compete in other ways.’
Ronaldo’s former United team mate Nani joined A-League club Melbourne Victory this season.
A-League chief Danny Townsend says Australia can offer Ronaldo ‘love and respect’
He revealed that he has already contacted Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes (R) over a move
Ronaldo, the leading scorer in the history of men’s international football with 117 goals in 191 official matches, is preparing to lead Portugal in Qatar in his fifth World Cup.
‘Obviously it’s a long shot but we’ve certainly got a compelling proposition for him here in Australia to consider,’ Townsend told local radio station SportsFM earlier on Thursday.
Should the A-League complete a sensational swoop for Ronaldo, the 37-year-old would be the most high-profile star to ever compete in Australia’s domestic competition.
The likes of Alessandro del Piero, Dwight Yorke and David Villa have all represented clubs Down Under, but Ronaldo’s arrival would top the lot.
