Imagining a PSG Team with Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo in Attack

Cristiano Ronaldo recently became Real Madrid’s all-time leading goal corer, but despite taking this crown from Raul, reports suggest he may not stay at the Spanish club for the foreseeable future.

"It looks like this could be the last season of Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid. It also looks as though Real Madrid aren't completely unhappy that this is the case." Guillem Balague told Sky Sports News HQ.

The Portugal international scored his side's second in a 3-0 win over Levante, taking his total to 324 goals in 310 games.

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

"This sounds amazing,” continued Balague. “When you look at the records he's gained—probably the best goalscorer in their history.”

"But perhaps Real Madrid believe he has peaked, and I've got the impression these people are feeling PSG will be the best solution.

As the Parisian club continue to strive towards breaking into the bracket of Europe’s elite, the signature of Cristiano Ronaldo would be another huge step. Although he is now on the wrong side of 30, he would still have three or four years at his peak to take the club to the next level.

Just like when Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived from AC Milan in 2012, bringing in the current FIFA Ballon d’Or winner would mark another huge moment in the French capital.

Javier Pastore’s €42 million move from Palermo in 2011 ushered in a new era at PSG, but it wasn’t until Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva joined that they were pushed up the European ladder—Ronaldo’s signature would be another jump in quality.

The timing couldn’t be better. In the summer, Ibrahimovic’s contract runs out, he is now 34 years old, and time has taken its toll on the Swede. Injuries are requiring longer to heel, and he is struggling to find the kind of form that makes him as influential as his ego would make you believe he still is—it is time to say goodbye to the talismanic forward.

Although Edinson Cavani has scored six goals in 10 league games this season, there are still huge doubts that the Uruguayan is the quality of striker who could lead PSG forward and compete for the UEFA Champions League—Ronaldo's arrival would work perfectly for the former Napoli man.

Speaking to RTL this week (h/t Get French Football News), former PSG and Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was glowing regarding the role of Karim Benzema in the Spanish side’s attack:

"

Ronaldo prefers to play on the left, Benzema is the ideal player for Ronaldo and Bale. In my register, Benzema is the best player in the world. There are no debates you can have on Benzema.

"

Playing Ronaldo to the left of Cavani, with either Angel Di Maria, Lucas Moura or Javier Pastore on the right, could be what is needed to get the best out of PSG’s No. 9.

The player has long desired to play through the centre and be the club’s main striker. With Ibrahimovic in the team, it’s just not possible, but with Ronaldo taking centre stage—in terms of limelight, but he'd play in a wider role on the pitch—it would give Cavani the position he craves.

Ronaldo’s movement would benefit the whole left side of the PSG team. Blaise Matuidi would be able to continue his charging runs from midfield, and the Portuguese forward cutting inside would create space for Layvin Kurzawa to bomb forward—just like Marcelo—from left-back.

In all fairness, there are not many teams that wouldn’t benefit from the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo. However, with their desire to reach the top of club football and the players already at the club, the former Manchester United man could be the perfect fit under the bright lights of the Eiffel Tower.