Why did Cristiano Ronaldo leave Real Madrid?

Ronaldo's last appearance for Real Madrid was the iconic photograph of him walking down the tunnel after the Champions League Final in 2018. Ronaldo left Spain after completing 9 years and winning trophies many athletes dream of.

However, Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid is still a confusing fact for many fans around the world.

Here is a breakdown in a data format for your better understanding of the reasons why Cristiano Ronaldo might have left Real Madrid.

Factor

Details

Data/Statistics

Salary and Contract Issues

Ronaldo was reportedly unhappy with his salary compared to other top players at Real Madrid. He sought an improved contract, but Real Madrid's offer was lower.

€23 million annual salary at the time of departure, which he felt was lower than expected after recent performances.

Tax Evasion Allegations

Ronaldo faced legal challenges related to tax evasion, which made his time in Spain less comfortable.

Ronaldo paid €18.8 million in taxes to settle the case in 2017.

Desire for New Challenge

After 9 years at Real Madrid, Ronaldo desired a new challenge, believing that his legacy at Madrid was complete.

Moved to Juventus in 2018 for €100 million transfer fee.

Contractual Terms & Renewal

Ronaldo wanted a contract extension with improved terms, but Real Madrid did not meet his demands, prompting his decision to leave.

His contract with Real Madrid was set to run until 2021, but he left in 2018.

Team Dynamics & Aging Factor

As Ronaldo aged, there were growing tensions about his role within the team. He may have felt that he was no longer the central figure in the club's plans.

At the time of departure, he was 33 years old, and there were signs of growing tension with the club's management.

Champions League Success

Despite being a key player, Ronaldo felt that Real Madrid was no longer going to achieve his ultimate goal of winning more Champions League titles.

Ronaldo led Real Madrid to 4 Champions League titles in 5 years, cementing his legacy at the club.

Financial Offer from Juventus

Juventus offered a competitive salary and the opportunity to lead a team with the potential to win Champions League glory.

Reported annual salary at Juventus: €31 million (higher than his Real Madrid salary).

Real Madrid's Reluctance to Meet Demands

Ronaldo felt that Real Madrid wasn't willing to make the necessary adjustments to keep him happy both financially and in terms of his role.

Real Madrid reportedly refused to meet Ronaldo’s contract demands, prompting his move.

Let's elaborate.

Brief Explanations About Cristiano Ronaldo Leaving Real Madrid.

A combination of factors influenced Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from Real Madrid to Juventus in 2018.

While Ronaldo himself cited feeling less indispensable at Real Madrid as a key reason for his decision, other underlying factors were at play.

The main reason Ronaldo left Madrid was because he believed he was no longer as highly valued by Real Madrid's president, Florentino Perez, as he had been during the first few years of his tenure with the club. He expressed this in an interview with France Football

He mentioned that he felt a stronger desire from Juventus to have him on their team, which contributed to his decision.

Additionally, Zinedine Zidane's departure as Real Madrid's coach played a part in his choice to leave.

Towards the end of his time at Real Madrid, there were reports that Ronaldo was seeking a pay raise after the club's 2018 Champions League triumph.

The potential arrival of Neymar at Real Madrid, seen as a replacement for Ronaldo, also factored into his decision.

Former Real president Ramon Calderon revealed that Cristiano had asked for a raise, which was denied by Florentino Perez.

Ronaldo also heard rumors that the club was willing to spend a substantial amount on Neymar. In response, Perez told Ronaldo that he could leave if he brought a €100 million transfer fee, which ultimately happened when he joined Juventus.

After all, Ronaldo put an end to his glorious 9 years career in Madrid behind and signed for Juventus. Cristiano might also have been lured by the Juventus fans as they applauded his overhead goal against them something he got little from Real Madrid fans as they are considered as the toughest of fans to deal with.

He left Real Madrid at 33, He might also have been fascinated by a different challenge. Juventus seemed perfect they had a team that could compete in Europe and were winning back-to-back League titles.

Did the Tax case in Spain motivate to Ronaldo to Leave Real Madrid?

Another factor that some have suggested influenced Ronaldo's decision was his involvement in a high-profile tax court case in Spain.

This case concluded in 2019 with Ronaldo paying around €19 million in fines.

Reports indicated that he had considered leaving Spain due to his treatment during the legal proceedings.

He even took to social media to criticize what he termed "fake news" and detractors trying to undermine his career.

However, Real Madrid's president, Florentino Perez, denied that the tax case had any bearing on Ronaldo's departure, stating that Ronaldo was seeking a change and an improved contract, which he found at Juventus.

How did Madrid do after Ronaldo?

The phase just after Ronaldo had left can be considered as downright worse as they were kicked out of every possible competition.

They even lost the UEFA Super Cup to Athletico Madrid, Without Ronaldo Real Madrid seemed really out of shape, they had a new coach Julen Lopetugie who came in after being sacked from the national team job during the World Cup.

He endured a very difficult spell as the team had the worst performance in a decade. He conceded 5 goals to a Messi-less Barcelona in Camp Nou.

He was sacked mid-season and replaced by Santiago Solari who was able to fix things to a certain level as he was the one that bought Vinicius Jr under the main light.

Madrid managed to secure 4th spot in La Liga barely managing to stay in Europe and their domestic and European defeats became a laughing stock around the world.

That famous Ajax victory in Santiago Bernabeu knocking 4-1 to Real Madrid where a young Frankie de Jong stole the show is still talked about among football fans.

Things began to change after Zidane came in for the second spell straight away winning La Liga and as the years went on new players like Vinicius, Rodrygo, and Camavinga took the light from the old players they managed to win a historic Champions League campaign against the top teams and secure the 14th Champions League for Los Blancos.