Revealed: Simeone's Ronaldo transfer stance amid Atletico Madrid rumours
Robin Bairner
- 15 Aug 2022 11:26 BST
- 3 min read
Cristiano Ronaldo’s possible transfer from Manchester United to Atletico Madrid has been one that has been touted for several weeks.
Rumours, however, have been stoked of a deal following Man Utd’s 4-0 loss to Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday, after which the Portuguese had a frosty exchange with manager Erik ten Hag.
While Rolando continues to make football transfer news headlines in the UK, he has also been prominent in Madrid, too – and not always for the right reasons.
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As rumours have built over a potential deal, dissent among the Atletico Madrid support has grown over the prospect of signing a Real Madrid legend. Indeed, head coach Diego Simeone, an iconic figure in Atleti’s history, has even been threatened with the sack if the transfer is completed.
Nevertheless, Guillem Balague has suggested that it is a deal that both Ronaldo and Simeone want to conclude.
So what is the transfer stance of the Argentine with regards the five-time Ballon d’Or winner?
Diego Simeone on Cristiano Ronaldo transfer
Simeone spoke of Ronaldo ahead of his club’s La Liga opener against Getafe on Monday.
“The controversy is normal,” he told the media. “As for me, I’m only thinking of Getafe, of the footballers who are already here. The only thing that matters to me and concerns me is that.”
What was notable in his speech, however, was that he certainly did not distance himself from the prospect of signing Ronaldo to the club. This refusal to deny a move is possible suggests that Balague’s assertion that Simeone wants the Portuguese to perform a Luis Suarez role for Atleti is entirely plausible.
Publicly, Simeone would be risking too much to state that he wants Ronaldo, given the mood around the club and also the potential difficulty in finalising a move, but there does seem to be a fresh shift towards the striker leaving Man Utd for Atletico Madrid this summer.
