Cristiano Ronaldo: Napoli's terms for Man Utd striker revealed
FT Desk
- 26 Aug 2022 15:35 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United may have to pay dearly if they hope to complete a swap deal with Napoli that sees Cristiano Ronaldo and Victor Osimhen switch clubs.
Napoli have emerged as a late possible destination for the Portuguese forward, who has made no secret of his desire to leave Old Trafford this summer after a disappointing first season back at United in 2021-22.
The Italian club first and foremost can offer Champions League football, Ronaldo's overriding goal, while they have the reputation and prestige sufficient to accommodate the veteran star.
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Reports began to emerge on Thursday that agent Jorge Mendes had offered his clients to those in charge at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, as he continues to look for a way out of United after a transfer window full of rejections.
One of the proposals set on the table by Mendes would see Ronaldo move back to Italy and Osimhen, who is much-admired by United, go the other way.
But such a deal would not come cheap for the Red Devils.
How much would Osimhen cost Man Utd?
According to Italian journalist Francesco Romano Napoli would demand a transfer fee of €140 million to sanction the swap.
In addition, United may have to continue to cover up to 70 per cent of Ronaldo's €360,000-a-week wages for the duration of the 2022-23 season, as his current contract expires at the end of the year.
Ronaldo is yet to score in his three Premier League appearances this season and was dropped to the bench for Monday's must-win clash against Liverpool on the back of consecutive defeats for United to kick off the campaign.
His place in the first team seems far from secure under manager Erik ten Hag despite top-scoring for the Reds last term, and widespread reports suggest that his attitude and frustrations at Old Trafford have led to the ex-Real Madrid and Juventus star being alienated from the rest of the squad.
