Cristiano Ronaldo Is Best Off Remaining with Real Madrid Next Season

Now that Neymar is off the open market, Cristiano Ronaldo is unquestionably the biggest name that could potentially be on the move. In the best interest of himself and Real Madrid, however, Ronaldo should remain with the team next season.

According to Andrew Haigh of The Sun, Ronaldo has been linked to clubs such as Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain since expressing displeasure with his situation at Real Madrid last year. A transfer is possible as the 28-year-old superstar's contract expires in 2015, but he shouldn't force his way out.

Haigh is reporting that The Blancos do not intend to move Ronaldo this summer. In fact, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez heaped heavy praise on his disillusioned striker:

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He told me in the summer he was sad and I told him we would do everything possible for him to be content. I don’t know if he has an offer from PSG. I think Cristiano is the best player in the world.

"

Perez appears desperate to keep Ronaldo and it is easy to see why. Most soccer fans consider him to be in a virtual dead heat with Lionel Messi for the title of best player in the world. Ronaldo can certainly stake some claim to that distinction as he has netted at least 53 goals in three straight season for The Vikings, including 55 in 55 appearances in 2012-13.

Those numbers are obviously representative of one of the world's best players, and Perez intends to pay Ronaldo as such in order to ensure that he continues to play his home matches at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, according to Live Football.

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Florentino Perez is prepared to make Cristiano Ronaldo the best paid player in the world to keep him at #RealMadrid. twitter.com/livefootball/s…

— LiveFootball (@livefootball) May 28, 2013"

That type of commitment should tell Ronaldo that he is wanted and needed by The Meringues moving forward. Also, there is no question that Madrid is dedicated to winning. The club was in on the Neymar sweepstakes, according to Haigh, and didn't remove itself from consideration until the price got astronomically high.

The Blancos aren't pinching pennies, though, and there is no doubt that they'll essentially write Ronaldo a blank check if that is what it takes to retain him. It remains to be seen if money is all that matters to Ronaldo, but if his supposed "unhappiness" is a ploy to increase Madrid's offer, it will probably work.

Either way, staying with Real Madrid for the 2013-14 season gives him an unbelievable amount of leverage. If he is only bluffing, he can continue to bluff and get even more out of The Blancos. If he truly wants to leave, though, he can play that card and force Madrid into moving him. Madrid would ultimately oblige rather than lose him for nothing.

No matter what Ronaldo chooses, he is the one in the driver's seat. Every top team in the world would love to have Ronaldo, including the team he currently plays for. He knows that, so he should also know that there is no point in pressing the issue so quickly.

Real Madrid is the best team for Ronaldo next season, and even if that doesn't result in him remaining with The Blancos over the long haul, he will ultimately be better for it.

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