Agent Jorge Mendes has offered the biggest indication yet that Cristiano Ronaldo is on his way out of Real Madrid following a trophy-laden nine-year spell with the club.
Ronaldo has been tipped to leave the Bernabeu this summer and continue his career in a new league with Serie A giants Juventus.
The Bianconeri are expected to lodge an £88m offer in the coming days, which will be enough for Madrid to sign off the deal for their all-time top scorer.
Mendes says that Ronaldo will always appreciate of Los Blancos after winning four of his five Ballon d'Or crowns during his time in the Spanish capital.
"If Cristiano Ronaldo does leave Real Madrid, he will be eternally grateful to the club, the president, the whole team, the medical staff, the supporters and all the Madridistas around the world," he told Portuguese newspaper Record.
"It will only be for a new stage and a new challenge in his brilliant career."
Ronaldo looks likely to leave Madrid with a record of 450 goals in 438 appearances, the last of which came in a 2-2 draw with Villarreal on the final day of the La Liga season.
Daniel Lewis
