Ronaldo 'will be key' in the future of wantaway PSG superstar Mbappe

Cristiano Ronaldo ‘is the KEY to Kylian Mbappe’: Real Madrid hope their former forward will move from Juventus to PSG to allow French star to leave, with just a year left on his contract after refusing a renewal

• Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe may be on the move this summer 
• Ronaldo asked Juventus to bench him as he reportedly hopes to leave soon 
• PSG striker Mbappe is keen to join Real Madrid with one-year left on his deal 
• AS in Spain claim that Ronaldo will be ‘key’ in helping Mbappe move to Spain 
• The front page of the paper also highlights Mbappe turning down fresh terms 

Cristiano Ronaldo is ‘key’ in the future of wantaway PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe after requesting to be left out of Juventus’ starting line-up at the weekend, according to a sensational new report.

Both Ronaldo and Mbappe want to leave their respective clubs this summer, with the latter seemingly unwilling to sign a new contract in France as Real Madrid remain interested, and they may even help each other in a surprising turn of events.

As revealed on the front page of AS this morning, Ronaldo’s desire to quit Turin over the coming days may see PSG’s hierarchy soften their stance over selling Mbappe now, and they may swoop for the Portuguese icon.

Cristiano Ronaldo will be key in deciding Kylian Mbappe’s future this summer, reports claim

Mbappe wants to leave PSG in this window and Real Madrid are reportedly stepping up a bid

This would see the two players achieve their goals, and also strengthen the attack of two of the heavyweight clubs in Europe. However, the same report describes the possibility of both deals happening as just ‘a train of thought’ currently.

Ronaldo has just one year left on his contract at Juventus and, as Sportsmail has recently reported, was offered to Manchester City this summer for just £25million. He was brought off the bench against Udinese.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed that Ronaldo’s absence from the starting XI was done because he ‘hopes to find a solution’ over a move, but also added that no official bids have been lodged as of yet.

AS’s front page headline translates as ‘the key to Mbappe’. Also mentioned is the dream frontline Ronaldo would join at PSG, and the new five-year deal Mbappe has rejected

Ronaldo asked Juventus to bench him at the weekend as he reportedly works to leave the club

Having seemingly stepped up his efforts to push for a new challenge, Ronaldo may find himself joining PSG and pushing through the double switch with Mbappe in the process. AS say nothing has been confirmed or denied.

It is believed that Real Madrid are ramping up their bid to swoop in for Mbappe during the final days of the window. Their hopes have been handed a boost, too, after the striker turned down PSG’s latest contract offer.

According to radio station RMC, PSG tabled a new five-year deal in a final bid to convince him to stay, only for Mbappe to reject it. The club, who were initially determined to stop him leaving, may now be open to selling. 

PSG are said to believe that the best way out of the dilemma would be for them to sell Mbappe now, rather than lose him for free next year, and Real Madrid are ready to negotiate with around €150m (£128m).

Mbappe has one more year left on his contract at PSG and could even leave on a free transfer

The good relationship between Florentino Perez and his counterpart in Paris, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, may also help grease the wheels for this switch – and, as a result, optimism is rising that a deal is there to be done. 

The prospect of PSG bringing in Ronaldo as a replacement would certainly sweeten the move. AS also claim that Juventus won’t be an obstacle for the move, as they believe allowing the talisman to leave would herald in a new chapter. 

PSG have already enjoyed a stellar summer, having brought in Lionel Messi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos and Georginio Wijnaldum on free transfers. Achraf Hakimi was snapped up from Inter Milan for a £60million fee.

Ronaldo would top off perhaps the most remarkable array of signings in history, but the indications from figures at Juventus have been solely focused on the belief that the former Manchester United man will still stay.

Juventus have been adamant that Ronaldo will stay at the club despite his reported wish to exit

After boss Massimiliano Allegri reiterated that Ronaldo will remain in his squad, vice-chairman Pavel Nedved doubled down on his remarks. He told DAZN: ‘We’ve decided together with Ronaldo. It’s normal. Ronaldo will 100% stay.’

Questioned on the choice to bench Ronaldo, Nedved added: ‘It was a shared decision with the player. We have to start [the] season, [but] you can’t be at the top.  

‘It’s a decision for the good of the team. [Giorgio] Chiellini, a European champion, also starts from the bench today. Will CR7 stay at Juventus? Absolutely yes.’

Tuttosport in Italy have suggested the agreement between Ronaldo and Allegri for him not to start may have been part of a plan to manage his body, and also a warning that the all-time great isn’t as touchable in Turin anymore.

Ronaldo came on against Udinese but saw a stoppage-time winner ruled out for a tight offside

Meanwhile, Real Madrid were reportedly offered Ronaldo – their record goal scorer – back, but both the player and Carlo Ancelotti quickly spoke out publicly to wave away the prospect of a reunion. 

In a 286-word social media post, Ronaldo brushed off the speculation linking him to a host of clubs around Europe. He labelled the talk ‘disrespectful’, and insisted he was ‘focused’ on Juventus for the start of the new season.

Sportsmail understands that Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus is on Juventus’ list of targets this summer, should Ronaldo leave. 

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