Football
ESPN staff 7y

Unhappy Cristiano Ronaldo not indispensable at Real Madrid - Figo

Former Real Madrid star Luis Figo believes "nobody is indispensable" in football, not even Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo, the reigning Ballon d'Or award winner, last week said he's being unfairly treated by Spain's tax authorities, whose "persecution" has made him determined to leave Real Madrid and the country, a source confirmed to ESPN FC.

Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with a move for the Portuguese forward should he be sold, however club president Florentino Perez said on Monday that he and the club expect Ronaldo to stay at the Bernabeu this summer.

However, Figo, who famously moved from Barcelona to Real for a then world record-fee of €62 million in 2000, told Gol no player or executive is bigger than the top clubs.

"I hold the opinion that nobody is indispensable, not just Cristiano Ronaldo," Figo told Gol.

"Clubs can't depend on anybody. The history of these clubs is above everyone, even the president or whoever."

Despite his insistence that Real can cope without him, Figo doesn't expect his fellow Portuguese, who is currently in Russia for the Confederations Cup, to exit the Bernabeu.

"A lot of things would have to happen for him to leave.

"It is a personal decision and if a person really wants something to happen then it will end up happening, but I see it as unlikely."

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