5 clubs Ronaldo could join after burning Man Utd bridges in explosive interview

The general consensus among fans and pundits alike is that Cristiano Ronaldo has played his last game for Manchester United in light of his explosive in-depth interview with Piers Morgan.

Everyone from United boss Erik ten Hag to his interim predecessor Ralf Rangnick came in for some stern criticism from Ronaldo and his comments on the Red Devils manager are what is likely to have prematurely ended his second stint at Old Trafford.

Discussing his boss, the 37-year-old forward told Piers Morgan Uncensored, via The Sun, "I don't have respect for him [Ten Hag] because he doesn't show respect for me. If you don't have respect for me, I'm never gonna have respect for you."

United have already responded, issuing a statement of their own that read: "Manchester United notes the media coverage regarding an interview by Cristiano Ronaldo. The club will consider its response after the full facts have been established.

"Our focus remains on preparing for the second half of the season and continuing the momentum, belief and togetherness being built among the players, manager, staff, and fans."

All signs are pointing to an exit in the January transfer window for Ronaldo, which in turn would fulfil his wish from the summer when he first made clear he wanted out.

With that in mind, Mirror Football has taken a look at the five clubs Ronaldo could join in the coming weeks or months if he is forced to wait until the summer.

Chelsea

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A transfer that would stun the Premier League, United's big-six rivals Chelsea are currently viewed as the favourites to land Ronaldo's signature if and when he ups sticks from Old Trafford.

Blues owner Todd Boehly is a well-documented fan of the forward and held meetings with Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes in the summer.

Then-Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel was not keen on the idea of signing Ronaldo and that is rumoured to be one of the factors that led to his eventual sacking earlier this season.

Whether current boss Graham Potter is more in favour of the switch is unclear, but if Boehly has his way Ronaldo will be a Blue in no time.

Sporting

It would be yet another remarkable homecoming for Ronaldo back to the club where it all began in his home country of Portugal.

Sporting would certainly do their best to roll out the red carpet for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, but manager Ruben Amorim has already admitted trying to cover Ronaldo's wages would be quite the task.

"Ronaldo is a top player, a Manchester United player," he said back in October.

"I'm going to respond the same way as a lot of journalists in Portugal ask me that question a lot. He is a Manchester United player.

"Everybody in Sporting dreams of the return for Cristiano, but we don't have the money to pay his wages."

If Ronaldo is willing to take a paycut to get his Hollywood ending back at his boyhood club, Sporting would be all too happy to have him.

Inter Miami

In truth, there are a number of sides in the Major League Soccer division that Ronaldo could prove tempted by, but Inter Miami's reported interest in signing both the United star and Lionel Messi would surely sway the 37-year-old.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been reluctant for some time to move to a team based outside of Europe as he wishes to prolong his love affair with the Champions League for as long as possible, but if does recognise that this is the end of that chapter - there are worse places to go than Miami.

Owned by fellow football icon David Beckham, the glitz and the glamour of Inter Miami would undeniably prove tempting if Ronaldo is willing to venture onto a new continent.

Paris Saint-Germain

Ronaldo has already conquered the Premier League, LaLiga and Serie A - he could look to make it the quartet in Ligue 1 by joining PSG.

The French giants are one of the few clubs that could offer him just about everything he wants.

Regular Champions League football is a given, while their astonishing wealth means they could afford to meet his astronomical wage demands.

It could also present the chance to line up alongside Messi if the Argentine extends his stay.

Any Saudi club

Back when Ronaldo first made it public he had no desire to stay at old Trafford in the summer, he was hardly inundated with offers from other clubs.

However, one unnamed Saudi club, rumoured to be Al-Hilal, offered him an eye-watering proposal that would have seen the forward pocket more than £50million per-year in wages.

At the time, Ronaldo was seemingly not interested at all in plying his trade in Saudi Arabia - but if he is faced with a similar situation like the start of this season, he may agree just to spare himself the humiliation of no European suitors.

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