Cristiano Ronaldo could cost Man Utd Jude Bellingham

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:55 CDT
• 3 min read

Cristiano Ronaldo’s problems at Manchester United could have a long-standing impact on the club, even after the Portugal international star has departed.

Man Utd and Ronaldo will part company at some point before the start of the 2023/24 season. This could be in January if a suitable offer comes in for the player, but it is likelier that he leaves as a free agent when his contract expires.

His departure will blow a huge hole in the Manchester United squad that will need urgently filled – and the type of money that the Red Devils are likely to have to spend on such a player means that the prospect of them signing Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund are significantly depleted.

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The asking price for many of the game’s top forwards at present is in excess of the €100 million mark. In terms of proven senior players, Napoli’s Victor Osimhen is someone liable to be on the move next summer and whose fee would be around that figure.

Even if United opted to gamble on a younger player, such as Benjamin Sesko or even Dortmund’s Youssoufa Moukoko, the fee would be a significant one. There would also be inherently a greater risk in signing such a player.

This will naturally have a knock-on effect to the rest of Manchester United’s transfer campaign, and particularly with regards Bellingham, who is widely expected to be the most expensive player on the move next summer.

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Man Utd have other priorities

Dortmund are holding out for a massive sum for the teenage midfielder, with a deal expected to be struck at well over €100m. With financial heavyweights such as Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid in the running, Man Utd would need to pool significant resources together in order to et a deal over the line.

And Bellingham is, quite simply, not that important to the club at present. With Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen and Casemiro available, United have three solid performers in the middle of the park, even if there is a sense that there is a lack of game-changing talent in that area.

Bellingham is, of course, attractive for Man Utd given his age and quality, but the priority will have to be finding a replacement for Ronaldo, whose boots are big and expensive to fill.