Cristiano Ronaldo's Contract Offer Will Be Real Madrid's Smartest Move of Summer

It's been quite a summer for Real Madrid fans thus far, with the arrivals of Isco, Asier Illarramendi and Dani Carvajal adding an exciting young Spanish dimension to an already impressive squad.

Recent speculation has also linked the club with a move for Tottenham winger Gareth Bale in what would undoubtedly be the biggest value transfer of the summer (per Jason Burt of The Telegraph), but their best business of the summer could well be in retaining the club's existing star, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Having been linked with a return to English football with Manchester United, there were genuine worries in Spain that the Portuguese superstar could end his spell at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.

In recent days, though, speculation has turned towards the forward being offered a new contract to remain at Real Madrid, and on Wednesday coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed his expectation that negotiations would soon be completed:

Ancelotti told Spanish newspaper AS (H/T Guardian):

"

The player wants to renew his contract and the club want him to renew it too, so I don't think it's going to be a problem.

"

The Italian is confident of retaining the forward and that can only be good news for Real Madrid. Ronaldo, and the huge quantity of goals he offers his side, can be the difference between title success and second place this season.

Buying Bale, should it happen, would be a major coup for Real in their quest to counter Barcelona's signing of Neymar this summer. Isco, also, should add much to Los Merengues in attack. The impact of both additions, though, would have been significantly lowered had Ronaldo departed.

Ronaldo has scored over 50 goals each season for the club over the past three years, before considering the assists he has added in that time. Bale is a phenomenal player, but it is realistically only Lionel Messi who can claim to be on par, or better than, the Portuguese superstar.

He is, at present, virtually irreplaceable to the Spanish side in terms of goal return and, at 28, his sale value is lowered by his advancing age. Even should he depart, they would not get the same fee as Tottenham would expect for the younger Bale.

As much as Real Madrid will have to spend to raise his contract, there is no doubting that it would be better value than seeing him depart. For the foreseeable future, he will remain one of the leading figures in world football.

With Gonzalo Higuain having departed and Real's attention having switched to Bale, Ronaldo's importance is clear.

Real have not been heavily linked with a replacement centre-forward since the Argentine's exit, meaning that Ronaldo is likely seen as an option for a central striking role. That variation, where he can play several forward roles to devastating effect, is very difficult to replace.

A move to Manchester United would have been tempting for both club and player to accept, with the chance to make major money on a player now likely signing his final major contract.

Common sense would seem to have prevailed. Real Madrid will likely spend well over €150 million in transfer fees this summer, but the best signing they could make would be Ronaldo putting pen to paper on a new deal.

Luckily for fans of the Spanish giants, it appears that it may now be close to becoming reality.