Real Madrid Transfer News: Cristiano Ronaldo Reportedly Wants Laurent Blanc Link

Cristiano Ronaldo has told Paris Saint-Germain manager Laurent Blanc he wants to play for him, as the Ligue 1 champions line up the Real Madrid icon up as Zlatan Ibrahimovic's replacement. 

Le Parisien (h/t Jordi Carne of SPORT) claim Ronaldo whispered his intent into Blanc's ear when Los Blancos recently played PSG in the Champions League, saying: "I would love to work with you."

The photograph of Ronaldo sidling up to Blanc at the end of the game has made the rumour mill churn, as speculation suggests the Ballon d'Or holder is on his way out of the Bernabeu. 

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

The Portugal wizard is under contract with Madrid until 2018, according to BBC Sport. He said upon signing the contract 2013 that he wanted to see out his years in the Spanish capital, rather than end his career at Manchester United: "Manchester United is the past. Real Madrid is now my home. I hope that I'm here until I retire. This is a great club."

However, Ronaldo could now be ready for a switch to PSG or United, with an MLS option also open for the player. French newspaper L'Equipe (h/t Will Giles of Metro) reported Ronaldo is now thinking about his future, with Blanc leading the race to capture his signature.

Francisco Seco/Associated Press

PSG are one of the few clubs in the world that can offer the forward new challenges, as well as maintaining his status and credibility in the Champions League. 

Ligue 1 would also offer a new stage for Ronaldo, but it is questionable whether the strength of the league will appeal to the player.

The French top flight sits behind the Premier League and La Liga in stature, but PSG will be able to pay him the wages he needs to make a transfer worth his while.

But Ronaldo recently spoke to Dan Roan of BBC Sport and declared he still loves United after being asked how he feels about the team's fall from grace after the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson:

"

For me it's hard to see that because it's a club that I love. Of course I want to see Manchester United at the level that it was in the past. Like, for example, Sporting Lisbon was my first professional club. I like to see the clubs that I like at the top and I think Manchester this season is better, but I think they still have work to do to be at the level of six, seven years ago.

"

JAVIER SORIANO/Getty Images

Roan also asked if a return to United was possible in the future, per BBC Sport, and the player replied:

"

As I say many, many times, the future nobody knows. At this moment I'm so glad and happy here in Real Madrid but the future nobody knows. I will say this answer all the time because the future nobody knows, but I'm good here. I still have a contract with Real Madrid and I'm happy here.

"

Ronaldo is clearly keeping his options open while refusing to categorically pledge his future to Madrid when United are mentioned. 

Sky Sports Spanish football expert Guillem Balague recently said in his new biography about the player he "dreams" of a move back to United, claiming Ronaldo told a Madrid colleague in 2014 "that he saw himself at United in two years' time."

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However, with United's struggles in England, and PSG's elevated status in European football, the winger might now change his option should he part company with Real president Florentino Perez.

The attacker is now the wrong side of 30, meaning he is running out of time to complete one last gigantic move, if he's tired of life at Madrid. Ronaldo maintained his exceptional annual standards during the 2014-15 campaign, scoring 58 times in the league and Europe, per WhoScored.com, but Real failed to win a trophy, and sacked popular coach Carlo Ancelotti.

He has won everything while representing Los Blancos, but a move to Paris would add an extra string to his bow in terms of his career, and the timing might be right for a switch. 

However, an emotional return to United cannot be discounted, and with the Red Devils in the middle of a rebuilding project at Old Trafford, they have the motivation and the finances to recapture their former club hero.