Five destinations for Cristiano Ronaldo if he leaves Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo caused a real stir after Real Madrid's win over Granada on Sunday night, in which he scored two to inspire the champions' victory.

'I’m sad - when I don’t celebrate goals it’s because I’m not happy. 'It’s a professional thing. Real Madrid know why I’m not happy.’

While it has been speculated the superstar has fallen out with other squad members, the reasons may be more complex and at present remain a mystery. So if he does leave Madrid, where would he go?

Here is a look at five possibilities...

Manchester City

Real Madrid will face Manchester City in the Champions League this Autumn, and if Ronaldo's future is not resolved by time the pair face off, expect the rumour mill to go into overdrive. City have the resources to pull off such a transfer, and it would certainly be a headline-stealer. They also have a special bargaining chip in their ranks in Sergio Aguero, who Real Madrid have long been targeting. Ronaldo joining Manchester City would certainly upset his former club in the red half of the city, would he be prepared to do that?

Chelsea

Chelsea outspent Manchester City this summer, and there is still a place available in the club's strikeforce after they elected not to sign back-up for Fernando Torres and Daniel Sturridge. Chelsea have been linked with Falcao after he demolished them in the Super Cup, but Ronaldo would be an equally tempting if more expensive option. One thing is for sure, Real Madrid would not want to take a loss on the £80 million they spent on him, and Chelsea are one of the few sides who could afford him. They may have the 'next Ronaldo' in Eden Hazard, but imagine the pair of them terrorising defences together? Unstoppable.

Manchester United

Perhaps this would be Ronaldo's preferred option, a return to Manchester United and the club who helped build him into the star he is today. He could link up again with Wayne Rooney, and a front three of Rooney, van Persie and Ronaldo would be as fearsome as they come. The big question is whether United could afford to bring him back. It is most likely that they couldn't, but if United sell Nani for £20 million and Hernandez for £15 million, they could start eating into the huge figure required to sign him.

PSG

PSG are one club who certainly have what it takes in terms of finances required to pull off such a mega-deal. They have spent big this season on Lavezzi, Thiago Silva, Ibrahimovic and Lucas Moura, and Cristiano Ronaldo would be the sort of marquee signing which would send their ambitions to stratospheric levels. Nobody saw the Zlatan deal coming a year ago, but now nobody would be surprised if the French side were to throw their hat into the ring to sign the player.

Barcelona

If you can't beat them join them right? Ronaldo to Barcelona seems like the most unlikely deal going, but is it really? Another Portuguese winger Luis Figo proved a decade ago that the path between the Spanish rivals can be trodden, even if having a pig's head thrown at you is the price to be paid. Whether Ronaldo fits Barcelona's team ethic is another matter, but the Catalans didn't make a big signing this summer, and they could be preparing for the right man at the right time. A Messi-Ronaldo strike partnership? Almost doesn't bear thinking about...

And then there are options such as a switch to Russia, with Zenit St Petersburg and Anzhi Machakala far from shy when it comes to splashing the cash. He may re-affirm his commitment to Real Madrid any day now, but it makes for interesting options...

Where do you think Ronaldo would go?

image: © Gordon Flood