Real Madrid Transfer News: Cristiano Ronaldo Reportedly Awaits Last Home Clasico

Saturday’s showdown between Real Madrid and Barcelona will reportedly be the final time Cristiano Ronaldo turns out in a Clasico clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.

According to Pete Jenson of the MailOnline, sources close to Los Blancos said the Portuguese forward will leave the club next summer, dubbing the process a “slow divorce.”

Jenson stated the reasons for Ronaldo wanting out are to do with much more than his patchy form on the field:

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They are rooted in Real Madrid's desire to cash-in on a player who will be 31 by the end of the season but would still command a huge fee in the transfer market. The first cracks appeared in the Real–Ronaldo relationship at the end of last season when the player publicly called the club out for the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti. ...

Ronaldo's relationship with Benitez is strained by footballing differences. The 55-year-old Spaniard has shown no intention of building the team around Ronaldo or playing the attacking style of football he thrives on. ‘We played too deep,' said Ronaldo as he walked off the pitch after Real Madrid's defeat last week against Sevilla.

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Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Jenson also noted Real Madrid did not send any representatives to the first showing of Ronaldo’s new film in London last week.

It’s suggested the actions of club president Florentino Perez, who allegedly told Ronaldo off in front of cameras for sparking doubts over his future in an interview, have also played a part in both parties wanting to go their separate ways.

Here's the peculiar exchange that took place between the player and the president:

All is not well between player and manager either, it would seem. According to El Confidencial (via Sport), in the wake of Real's loss to Sevilla last time out, Ronaldo is said to have told Perez "with this coach we will not win anything" in reference to manager Rafael Benitez.

As we can see here, courtesy of WhoScored.com, the forward is struggling to have a full influence on matches under the tutelage of the current manager:

It seems as though French giants Paris Saint-Germain are the favourites to land Ronaldo, with Jenson noting signs of “cordiality” recently between the Portuguese, the club’s manager Laurent Blanc and owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

Manchester United have also been linked with possibly bringing the former Red Devil back to Old Trafford, per Simon Mullock of the Sunday Mirror.

Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

If Saturday’s tussle with rivals Barcelona is Ronaldo’s final home outing in this fixture, you can bet he’ll be doubly determined to ensure he performs well in it.

As we can see here, courtesy of Soccer St., the forward has been putting in some graft to ensure he’s in the best shape possible ahead of the contest:

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Ronaldo putting in work on his day off. Role model. pic.twitter.com/LaUsr1UkEM

— Soccer St. (@SoccerSt_) November 15, 2015"

The match is a hugely important one. Barcelona, who have been decimated by injury issues in the early weeks of the season, are three points clear of their great rivals at the La Liga summit.

A loss to the Blaugrana on home soil would leave Real with a mountain to climb in pursuit of league glory.

JOSEP LAGO/Getty Images

That’s something Ronaldo must ensure does not happen. As noted here by sports journalist Rafael Hernandez, despite the forward’s achievements in the all-white jersey, some have been critical of the fact he’s not won that much during his time at the club:

Should Ronaldo leave Real Madrid at the end of this season, assuming the team fails to win anything this year under Benitez, he’d do so as a one-time league and Champions League winner. Granted, Los Blancos have had to go up against one of the finest teams ever on the domestic front, but it’s not a trophy haul befitting of Ronaldo’s immense talent.

This Clasico will play a significant role in determining just how serious Real are about winning the league title in 2015-16. Ronaldo, perhaps for the final time before a backdrop of raucous Madridistas, must swing the match the way of his side if he’s to enjoy a silver-lined farewell from the Bernabeu.