Cristiano Ronaldo’s Exit Could Have Been More Fruitful

United could have got half a billion for superstar

Man Utd could have got £500m for Cristiano Ronaldo and that would have been CHEAP, says man who took his...

Manchester United could have got £500m for Cristiano Ronaldo and that would have been CHEAP, says the man who took him to Old Trafford for the first time. Former United chief scout Jim Lawlor believes the Portugal superstar could have fetched a world-record fee had United cashed in on him at the peak of his powers.

Ronaldo, now 37, is expected to leave United again this summer after telling the club he wants out. Lawlor believes United should not stand in his way and should instead look to recoup as much money as possible for a player who cost them £12.9m when he first arrived from Sporting Lisbon in 2003.

"I think United could have got £500m for him a few years ago," Lawlor told The Sun. "And even now, I think they could get £250m for him. He's still one of the best players in the world and he's still got a lot to offer. I think it would be a mistake for United to stand in his way if he wants to leave. They should cash in on him while they still can."

Ronaldo has been linked with a move to a number of clubs this summer, including Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. It is believed that United would be willing to sell him for around £20m, but it is unclear whether any club would be willing to pay that fee for a player of his age.

Lawlor believes that Ronaldo's departure would be a blow to United, but he also believes that it could be an opportunity for the club to rebuild. "Ronaldo is a great player, but he's also 37 years old," Lawlor said. "He's not going to be around forever. United need to start thinking about the future and they need to start building a team that can compete for trophies without him."