Cristiano Ronaldo won't ever return to Real Madrid despite 'open door' claim

Cristiano Ronaldo has “left the door open” on a return to Real Madrid.

That’s according to his Portugal international teammate Jose Fonte.

But in actual fact, in moving to Juventus and in particular Italy in 2018, Ronaldo slammed the door firmly shut behind him.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner left the Santiago Bernabeu to join the Italian champions in an £88million deal after nine hugely-successful years.

The Portuguese superstar now 35, became the club’s all-time record goalscorer during his tenure, winning four Champions League crowns and a plethora of other titles.

Fonte, the ex-Southampton and West Ham defender, part of the Portugal side that emerged victorious at Euro 2016, declared on Thursday: “It’s clear that he loves the club itself, it’s one of the biggest clubs in the world, if not the biggest.

“He’s left many, many friends there and he’s always left the door open. So I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes back to Real Madrid.”

However, leaving Serie A and returning to his former stomping ground makes no sense whatsoever for Ronaldo.

Not least in footballing terms, with Los Blancos’ transfer policy having pivoted to youth – note the big-money signings of Brazilian trio Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Reinier – and the fact that there is nothing left for Ronaldo to prove in La Liga.

Also, given his relationship with Florentino Perez, the Madrid president. Despite public denials from both, there has long been tension between the pair, which came to a head after the Champions League win over Liverpool in Kiev.

Ronaldo spoke of his unhappiness at his situation, declaring: “In the next few days I’ll give an answer to the fans who have always been by my side. It was beautiful to be at Real Madrid.”

Perez responded: “The club is more important than anyone. I am glad he has five European Cups, like me. The same thing is heard every summer and then nothing happens.”

That comment was made with such disdain that,they are now in something of a personal arm’s race, bidding to get to No.6 first.

And then there’s the whole reason he was signed by Juventus in the first place: To fire them to a first European Cup since 1996.

That has become an obsession to club chiefs, an obsession that won’t subside any time soon.

It is also something that Ronaldo finds himself striving for, trying to be the first to win the Champions League with three different teams from three countries, having also succeeded with Manchester United.

But with Ronaldo en route to becoming the first billionaire footballer, it makes absolutely no sense for financial reasons either.

Ronaldo is paid £52milion via his Juventus contract, with his take home a massive £30million.

Having swapped Spain for Italy, Ronaldo is taxed on his Juventus contract at 43 per cent. When he left Real Madrid, he was paying 52 per cent. Certainly, that is beneficial to the Portuguese.

Off-the-pitch Ronaldo is making more money than ever before; last year he earned £36million through commercial ventures with the likes of Tag Heuer, Nike and his own CR7 brand, according to Forbes.

‘The Ronaldo effect’ drives mega-money to his sponsors via his mass ranks of followers – Ronaldo boasts 420million – across Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Each advertised post earns him in the region of £900,000.

And in Italy, those commercial deals are going far further.

Like many athletes who live in Spain, he didn’t consider most of his worldwide income would be subject to full Spanish taxation and duly fell foul of Spanish authorities – like numerous others have – eventually paying a £17million fine.

But in Italy, a fiscal law brought in in 2018 allows individuals moving to the country to pay as little as £88,000 (€100k) in tax per year as a forfeited amount on earnings made outside of the country.

Thus, while Ronaldo is a tax resident in Italy, and is taxed ordinarily on Italian source income, those commercial deals are not dealt with in the same manner, according to art. 23 of the Income Tax Code “TUIR” related to non-residents.

Return to Spain, and that flat £88k is gone and Ronaldo, who was furious at how the authorities came for him during his time in Madrid, is left paying multi-millions more each year.

Last year, Ronaldo discussed his problems with Spain’s tax authorities.

He stated simply: “I can’t forget or hide my problems with the tax authorities, my life is like an open book.”

With all that in mind, it’s nonsensical to expect football’s biggest money-maker to return to the Spanish capital.