Cristiano Ronaldo's latest exit route as Jorge Mendes' trump card emerges

When recounting the legends and icons of Serie A giant Napoli's club legends and icons, names such as Marek Hamsik and Ciro Ferrara are well deserving of their place in the club's pantheon of loyal servants.

However, one name stands out above the rest and that is the same one that adorns the side of their stadium - Diego Armando Maradona.

The Argentine hero - dubbed one of the greatest players that the sport has ever seen - arrived in Naples in 1984 following a two-year spell with Barcelona. Just two years later, he ended the club's long wait for a Serie A crown and forever etched himself into the fabric of the Italian club.

Hamsik - the club's all-time leading goalscorer - has never hidden his admiration of the fleet-footed playmaker. Speaking last year, he said: "He was one of the biggest. He was something incredible, fantastic."

It is hard to suggest then that any player would go on to match the achievements of 'El Diego' but that is not taking into account the abilities of a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese has already lodged a request to leave Manchester United this summer following an indifferent season last time out. He has expressed his desire to leave on a free transfer in an effort to return to the Champions League.

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Potential suitors such as Chelsea, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid have all fallen by the wayside following initial rumours that they were set to make a move and Napoli are now the most recent to be linked with a swoop for the 37-year-old. According to AS, his agent Jorge Mendes has offered the Serie A giants Ronaldo's signature as he attempts to plot a route for his client out of Old Trafford.

Whilst a swoop initially looks unlikely, it could actually be a match that suits both parties perfectly.

First and foremost, Napoli need a striker. Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens have both departed and whilst they still retain the services of the extremely promising Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian starlet alone cannot be relied upon for a consistent Serie A title challenge.

There were initial links to former Juventus star Paulo Dybala but the Argentine elected to move to Serie A rivals Roma instead. Ronaldo would certainly give them more of a goal threat despite his advanced years. Even in an under-par campaign compared to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's usually high standards, he still plundered 24 goals in all competitions - an amount that would have placed him at the top of Napoli's goalscoring charts last season.

Ronaldo would also be returning to a league where he has enjoyed success in the past. During a three-year spell with Juventus, he scored 101 goals and helped the Old Lady to five major trophies. That's not to mention the tantalising offer of a place back in the Champions League - a driving force behind his reasoning to leave Old Trafford after just a year.

The Italian side would also be receiving the services of a bonafide footballing icon - and one that can certainly match the status of the ever-revered Maradona. It goes without saying that the Portuguese would relish the opportunity of being placed on the same pedestal - if not higher - as the Argentine.

He has regularly expressed his desire to establish himself as one of the best players in history - and has the belief that he has done just that. Speaking to France Football back in 2017, he said: "I've never seen anyone better than me. I have always thought that. No footballer can do the things I can.

"There's no player more complete than me. I play well with both feet, I'm quick, powerful, good with the head, I score goals, I make assists. There are guys who prefer Neymar or Messi. But I tell you: there's no one more complete than me."

There is no doubt that if he matches Maradona's achievements in Naples then Ronaldo will silence any rumblings over his status as one of the best players in the sport's history - if there was any in the first place. That of course will be a huge factor as the Portuguese considers his next move.

Whilst it appears a switch back to Italy is a no-brainer for the Real Madrid icon, there is however one problem, and that is not even taking into account Man Utd's hesitancy to sell their top scorer.

Ever since Gonzalo Higuain quit Napoli for Juventus in a reported £75m deal back in 2016, there has been a fierce animosity between the two clubs - a bitterness that has led to Napoli fans being banned from travelling to Turin for away clashes. As a former Juventus player, it remains to be seen what type of reception Ronaldo would receive from the two clubs should he make the move albeir not a direct switch.

Of course, Higuain - a former teammate of Ronaldo's at Real Madrid - did not hesitate in making the move. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, he said: "It was very difficult for me to make that decision because I knew everything it would entail, but I never had any doubts. I could have more love and more happiness, I had no reason not to go."

For a player keen on leaving lasting legacies and impressions, it seems unlikely that Ronaldo would be willing to sacrifice his relationship with the Juventus supporters.

It is certainly a dilemma that the Portuguese will have to work through during the remainder of the transfer window. Whether his next destination is Napoli or not remains to be seen but he will hope to be assured of his place in club history wherever that may be - just like Maradona.