Cristiano Ronaldo Needs to Look Past Distractions, Focus on 2014-15 Season

Transfer speculation continues to surround Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, and the forward needs to find a way to look past the distractions and focus on this season, not the future.

The Daily Mail's Rob Sheperd threw some more fuel on the fire on Saturday, claiming the Portugal international was on course to join Manchester United in the summer of 2013 before a new contract and a deal to join AS Monaco for tax-free wages changed his mind:

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Of course, money was the main issue. That meant Ronaldo secured and £15million a year contract with Real.

But his representative, 'super agent' Jorge Mendes, made the deal on the basis that Ronaldo could be released at the age of 30 to play for Monaco on a 'netto deal', meaning cash without tax.

It was effectively 'platinum pension' for all a concerned.

But things have gone wrong for the Russian owner of Monaco, Dmitry Rybolovlev, which is why Ronaldo is likely to leave Real Madrid next summer for his old employers.

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Ronaldo confirmed the thought had crossed his mind back in January, per Sky Sports, although he never made any mention of concrete plans.

The suggestion he would be allowed to join Monaco for no fee so he could earn the highest wages possible seems improbable at best, but it's just the latest story to come out in recent weeks linking the star forward with a transfer away from the Spanish capital.

Don't expect the speculation to die down, either. No matter how often Ronaldo commits to Real, or people like Louis van Gaal say it's highly doubtful Los Blancos would actually sell him (per the BBC), reports will keep surfacing.

Ronaldo is a global icon, a true superstar of the sport. Continued links with a transfer sell copies of newspapers—it's part of everyday life for the 29-year-old.

There's no need for the interested parties to get distracted by all these stories, however. Only Ronaldo knows what his plans for the future are, and at this point, even he likely hasn't figured things out yet.

Barring a complete falling out in the coming months, a January move is off the table. Ronaldo is a highly competitive player—he's part of Carlo Ancelotti's squad this season, and he wants to win more silverware.

Gabriel Pecot/Associated Press

Last year's UEFA Champions League win will have tasted sweet, and no club has ever repeated as champions in the modern format. It would be another accolade he could add to his impressive resume and just one of many trophies Real are gunning for this season.

The Red Devils are not going to win the Premier League this season. Van Gaal and his squad are still figuring things out, and that will take time. As Ronaldo's most likely transfer destination, the developments at Old Trafford in 2014-15 will be crucial to his decision. Until it becomes clear what direction the club is headed, he won't move back.

Chelsea or Paris Saint-Germain? Ronaldo is cup-tied to Real Madrid. He's not giving up a chance to win another Champions League trophy just to move in January.

No, unless things drastically change in Madrid, Ronaldo will stay put until the summer and then make his decision. He appears to be finally recovered from the injury concerns that plagued him at the end of the last campaign and the start of this one, and his performance against Deportivo La Coruna was vintage Ronaldo.

A strong season from here on out will only strengthen his position when the time comes to negotiate his future. Whether he wants to stay or leave, another monster year will help his case.

Giving in to the many transfer stories can only serve as a distraction. It's pointless for Ronaldo to start speculating about his future at this point—United are currently not an attractive destination, and there's plenty of silverware for him to chase in his current situation.

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