Jorge Mendes Talks Cristiano Ronaldo Transfer Value, Manchester United and More

Jorge Mendes, the agent of Cristiano Ronaldo, believes his client is the "best sportsman ever" and could cost prospective buyers his full release clause of "one billion" euros.

Mendes recently spoke to BBC Sport's Dan Roan about the Real Madrid star and the possibility of Ronaldo returning to Manchester United. Although he indicated Ronaldo remains priceless, he also suggested any serious suitor would pay the price Madrid outlined for him should they wish to sell.

BBC Sport reported Mendes' answer to the valuation of the three-time Ballon d'Or winner.

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"Cristano Ronaldo? One billion. His buyout clause one billion, so it is one billion. It is impossible to buy someone like him. If for any reason the club decide to sell him tomorrow for 300 million, someone will pay," said Mendes.

When asked whether Ronaldo will finish his career at the Bernabeu, Mendes replied, "For sure." Even so, Mendes admitted the 29-year-old still feels connected to the Red Devils, as transcribed from Roan's interview: "He loves the Man United supporters, he told me, because he was there six years." 

Ronaldo spoke about his admiration for United in January, as reported by Ben Burrows of the Mirror. "I think about Manchester United," said the former Sporting Lisbon starlet. "The beginning of my career was there, that’s where I started. I know the fans are there supporting me."

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Spanish football expert Guillem Balague recently took over B/R UK's Twitter account, where he discussed the likely movements of Ronaldo:

Mendes suggested football is the "most important sport in the world," saying top players "deserve" the "maximum" amount of wages. This is perhaps replicated in deals he has helped broker, with the likes of Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria moving to United on extortionate wages over the summer.

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Ronaldo's potential return to United is regularly spoken about—particularly during transfer windows—despite it appearing likely he will see out his career with Madrid. The yearning is there for United fans, who even began the "#RonaldoToManUtd" trend on Twitter during Monday's buildup to the transfer window closing.

United have never come close to replacing Ronaldo's all-out goalscoring prowess. He has netted 34 in 30 matches this campaign, per WhoScored.com, scoring 48 in 41 appearances across La Liga and the Champions League last season.

Di Maria is perhaps the closest United have come to finding a speedy, incisive and versatile forward after Ronaldo's departure, but the two aren't comparable in front of goal. Ronaldo's quality is highlighted below:

A fairytale return for Ronaldo has the potential to be extremely risky, particularly with the costs Mendes claimed would be involved. There's the likelihood an ageing CR7 wouldn't perform so well, and as noted by Balague, could prefer a less intense league during the latter stage of his playing career.

It is perhaps positive to hear the player still thinks about the club he left behind, even if Mendes' comments suggest Madrid would only let him leave for a record-shattering bid. Whether he would still be worth €300 million to United as he approaches 30 is questionable.

The club is itching for a return to the Champions League and shouldn't even consider landing its former icon on such terms until then.