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Cristiano Ronaldo blocks Real Madrid from signing Lionel Messi's protege Mauro Icardi
CRISTIANO RONALDO has blocked Real Madrid from moving for Mauro Icardi because of his friendship with Lionel Messi.
Cristiano Ronaldo blocked Real Madrid from signing Mauro Icardi
That is the claim from Spanish publication Don Balon who say Ronaldo has put his foot down.
Ronaldo is said to have learned of Madrid’s interest in the Inter striker and gone straight to the top.
The Portuguese was unhappy firstly that Karim Benzema would be replaced and secondly that one of Messi’s protege’s would be brought in.
And he has flatly refused to let Madrid make the signing.
Mauro Icardi's caption reads: With the best in history, no doubt
It comes as Florentino Perez looks to overhaul the struggling forward line.
Ronaldo and Benzema have just two goals between them in La Liga this season, with Gareth Bale adding two more himself.
Real are third in La Liga, 10 points behind Barcelona, after 12 games.
And, despite wining back-to-back Champions League titles, Zinedine Zidane is under pressure.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in the Champions League this week
Madrid are targeting a new striker and are looking at their options.
Robert Lewandowski, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe on their shortlist, while Icardi was also mooted.
But that has now been put to bed after Ronaldo’s intervention.