Mendes rules out Ronaldo's return to Sporting: "Not part of his ...

Despite the wish of his mother 

Juventus star striker Cristiano Ronaldo will not return to his boyhood club Sporting CP. Ronaldo's agent denied media reports that the 36-year-old is considering a return to his homeland as early as this summer due to the recent failures of his Italian club. "Portugal is not part of his career plans for now," Jorge Mendes, head of the Gestifute agency, told Portuguese newspaper Record.

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Rumors of a return had also been fueled recently by Ronaldo's mother Dolores Aveiro. After Sporting's first league title in 19 years, she had shouted to journalists and fans from the balcony of her home in Madeira on Tuesday, "Tomorrow I'll talk to him, I'll persuade him. He will come back."

Ronaldo had come under increasing criticism following Juventus' repeat exit in the Champions League round of 16 in March. CR7 blamed the media and fans for the failure against FC Porto. Things are also looking bad in Serie A. The Bianconeri, who had won the last nine league titles in a row, are now in fifth place with two rounds to go and could miss out on the Champions League.

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Who can afford Ronaldo? Rumors about PSG & Man Utd - Real Madrid not an option

Interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Ronaldo's former clubs Manchester United and Real Madrid had also been reported. However, a transfer is also considered unlikely by observers because his contract at Juventus still runs until June 2022. Not many clubs—especially during the pandemic—can even come close to paying his annual salary of around €31 million. Real boss Florentino Pérez had most recently denied a possible return "It no longer makes sense," Mendes said. "I like him very much, he has given us a lot, but it makes no sense."