Football
ESPN 6y

Cristiano Ronaldo will stay at Real Madrid despite Juventus speculation - Luka Modric

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has said he does not think Cristiano Ronaldo will leave the Bernabeu despite speculation that he will join Italian champions Juventus.

Portugal captain Ronaldo has spent nine years at Madrid, but speculation over a potential €100 million transfer caused Juve's share price to soar last week.

After a report in Italy on Thursday claimed Ronaldo had accepted terms, a source close to the player told ESPN that nothing had yet been decided over his future but said talks could move forward.

Modric, however, believes the 33-year-old will stay with the Champions League winners.

"Let's see what happens," AS reported him as saying. "I don't think he's going to go and I would like him to stay because he's the best player in the world.

"He means a lot and hopefully he will stay. I think he's going to stay -- that's my opinion. It would be very good if he stayed because I can't imagine him in any other European team."

Meanwhile, former Madrid president Ramon Calderon told Tuttomercato: "If Ronaldo were to leave Madrid, he would leave a gap that would be impossible to fill.

"You cannot easily find a champion who, in addition to participating decisively in team play, guarantees more than 50 goals per season, and much more for the past nine years."

^ Back to Top ^