MLS Weekly: Could Ronaldo follow Messi State-side?
Which clubs might be able to attract Cristiano Ronaldo to MLS?
Lionel Messi is heading to MLS, and there are some star names in line to follow him.
Sergio Busquets is reportedly in the frame to join Messi at Inter Miami, while there has also been speculation of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s other former Barcelona team-mate Jordi Alba joining them.
How Miami would have the capability to sign another two superstars on top of Messi is up for debate, though the Herons’ managing owner Jorge Mas teased supporters on June 19th when he posted a graphic of three shirts hanging above the tagline “Si”. His tweet was hashtagged: “No caption needed”.
Mas has confirmed that Messi’s debut is set for a July 21st clash against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup. He is expected to sign a two-and-a-half-year deal, worth between $50million and $60m per season.
But there is one player who surely every other club in MLS would love to bring to the league. And now Messi is there, nothing should be ruled out.
Saudi Arabia’s Pro League may now be luring big names from Europe following Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival in January, though there has been speculation that the 38-year-old wants out of Al Nassr.
Sporting Kansas City wanted to sign Ronaldo before his move to Saudi Arabia, with coach Peter Vermes acknowledging as much in a recent press conference.
Asked whether SKC could return for Ronaldo, Vermes said: “No, he’s wrapped up for two years on a significant amount of money. I think the transfer fee would be a little out of our range.
“At the time when we were thinking about doing that deal, [Messi going to Miami] was in the back of our head, because there was talk of him going to Miami at the end of the world cup. It could have been – could have, should have, would have – those are all kinds of things in life.”
Kyle Bonn, a journalist for The Sporting News, told More Than A Game he believes there is a decent chance Ronaldo still winds up in MLS, however.
“Absolutely, I think there’s a big chance of that. The one wrinkle is his legal issues, that could be tough for him – he’d get asked about it incessantly – whether there’s any lingering issues I don’t know – maybe that could be an issue getting visas and that stuff. I’m sure they’d work it out, but it could be a roadblock.”
Assuming Ronaldo’s legal issues would be no hurdle, and that a move to Kansas City is indeed off the table, who might the other options be in MLS?
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