Report: PSG want Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo in player swap deal
What's the story?
Paris Saint-Germain are looking to form the best attack in history and are attempting to swap striker Edinson Cavani for Real Madrid's very own Cristiano Ronaldo. According to El Confidencial, the Ligue 1 club wants to take advantage of the fact that the Portuguese forward is unsettled at the Bernabeu and is seeking a move elsewhere.
PSG want to form an attacking trio by teaming up Ronaldo with record-breaking signing Neymar and Kylian Mbappe - both of whom will eventually cost the club £364m when Mbappe's transfer to the capital club becomes permanent at the end of the season.
In case you didn't know...
Ronaldo's current contract at the La Liga club runs out in 2021. He had last signed a contract extension in November 2016. He also has a €1 billion (£886m) release clause in his contract which would make Neymar's €222m look like peanuts if it was ever triggered.
On the other hand, Cavani's contract with PSG ends in 2020. However, the Uruguayan striker is two years younger than Ronaldo and has only just come into his own in the past couple of season following Zlatan Ibrahimovic's departure which allowed him to play up top rather than out wide.
The heart of the matter
According to the report, the reason PSG think this deal will work in both teams' favour is that they feel Real will cut their losses on Karim Benzema and look for a suitable replacement.
The French striker has only scored 4 goals in the entire season while Cavani has scored 27 times - including six in the Champions League, second behind Ronaldo's 9 goals.
Video: Cavani's highlights of 2017/18
Author's take
This seems like quite a ridiculous notion. Firstly, PSG are trying their best to ensure they comply with Financial Fair Play regulations. Even if they did swap Cavani with Ronaldo, they would still be asked to pay a huge sum to get their man.
Secondly, since Mbappe's transfer becomes official this summer, that would see them spend £166m to get him. It is why he was signed 'on loan' this season with a move to make it permanent this year to avoid FFP sanctions since they had already signed Neymar for £198m.
Lastly, bringing Ronaldo to PSG would probably see Neymar go the other way. After spending the last few years in Lionel Messi's shadow, the last thing he wants is to play second fiddle to Ronaldo. With the Ballon d'Or on his mind, teaming up with Ronaldo is not an option for the Brazilian.
And as for Ronaldo himself, he has repeatedly stated that he would like to retire at the Bernabeu. Moving to PSG would give him the wages he desires but he trusts Zinedine Zidane to help him deliver on the pitch.