Real Madrid Transfer News: Los Blancos Should Consider Selling Cristiano Ronaldo

Given his current standing as arguably the world's best player, it seems an unthinkable notion for Real Madrid to even ponder selling Cristiano Ronaldo.

But in light of recent comments coming from former Bernabeu team-mate Angel Di Maria, it's an eventuality they should account for in 2015, the Argentinian hinting that Ronaldo wishes to leave Los Merengues, per the Independent's Paul Smith:

"I don't know how much longer Ronaldo can put up with it at Madrid. I get the impression that he is not very happy."

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Before heading into the intricacies of any potential sale, it's of course worth mentioning that if Real can manage to convince Ronaldo the Spanish capital is the place for him, then retaining his talents is worth an almighty expense.

However, with football now a more business-like industry than ever, and with the superstars pulling the strings at the elite level, keeping unhappy talent among one's squad can often be detrimental to the organisation as a whole.

At 29 years of age, Ronaldo is right in the midst of his prime years, and so one might believe his transfer value could yet exceed or at least equal the £80 million that saw him move from Manchester United in 2009.

Fieldoo Football cites CIES Football Observatory in suggesting Ronaldo's current value as being €119 million:

After all, Real Madrid did just sell Di Maria in the opposite direction for £59.7 million, and without doing injustice to the Red Devil, Ronaldo is a far superior talent in just about every way imaginable.

Should the issue intensify, Real would be under no great strain to sell other than that applied by the player's own desire for a departure. They have the financial means in place to preserve Ronaldo as their icon, but internal issues can prove the most debilitating of all.

WhoScored.com shows the hit man is very much a player in peak form this past year, too

Di Maria's quotes come just a week after Ronaldo was quoted himself in speaking favourably of a move back to Old Trafford, per The Telegraph, backing up claims that he may be looking for a change in scenery:

"I love Manchester. Everyone knows that. Manchester is in my heart. I left many good friends there. The supporters are amazing and I wish I can come back one day."

Home is where the heart is, and for all the stellar salaries and promises of silverware in the world, it's a harsh reality for Carlo Ancelotti that Ronaldo's intent may simply not revolve solely around Real Madrid anymore.

Of course, Ronaldo's comments could also be a plan engineered to obtain another contract extension in Madrid, his current deal not expiring for another four years but wages often the main object in sight, not longevity.

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It's a sad truth in modern football, but no longer is it enough to simply have a contract, play it out and then look to sign another one, with many new routes and avenues for players becoming routine.

Ronaldo shares the same representative as Di Maria, super agent Jorge Mendes having facilitated his switch to Real five years ago and undoubtedly capable of doing the same for a return.

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In the absence of Ronaldo, Real would lay it all on the line and hope to craft a new squad, one more based around the likes of Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez and Luka Modric. So, it's not all doom and gloom for the club, clearly.

The fact is that Ronaldo's days at the Bernabeu will come to their end one day, irrespective of how impossible that fate may feel to some. 

For the club, it's a matter of timing that exit to the optimum degree; is it best to see out his contract and have him go through the motions of his twilight years, or should they sell when stock is at a premium? Will a unique talent like Ronaldo ever have such a thing as twilight years?

In the months to come, these are all questions Real must ask themselves, but the key is to not rule out the possibility of Ronaldo's exit altogether.

The 2013-14 best player in Europe has been ever present in any club success since joining, from the 2010-11 Copa del Rey to last season's Champions League triumph, but no one can guarantee with complete certainty they wouldn't thrive without him.

If the figures are suitable and word of Ronaldo's discontent is true, Real need only remember that no one man is an island, and as their superstar approaches the age of 30, the time may be coming for his talent to be put to its best use yet.