Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Real Madrid news: Cristiano Ronaldo sends huge Karim Benzema transfer warning
CRISTIANO RONALDO is ready to leave Real Madrid if the club sell Karim Benzema this summer, according to reports in Spain.
Cristiano Ronaldo has threatened to leave Real Madrid if Karim Benzema is sold
The Portuguese star admitted he wanted to leave the Spanish capital last summer.
However, since then Ronaldo has seemed to backtrack on his comments, insisting he was ready to put pen to paper on a new deal at Madrid.
The attacker's current deal runs out in 2021 but his future has again been thrown into doubt.
According to Spanish outlet Don Balon, Ronaldo has told Madrid chiefs he will have no choice but to consider his future if Benzema is sold at the end of the season.
Karim Benzema could lose his place if Florentino Perez spends big this summer
The Frenchman has plied his trade at the club for almost a decade.
However, surrounded by superstars such as Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, Benzema has sometimes failed to stand out at the La Liga giants.
To add, Madrid are always being linked with European heavyweights in attack.
Cristiano Ronaldo does not want to see his Real Madrid team-mate depart
And the arrival of Robert Lewandowski or Mauro Icardi this summer could spell the end of Benzema's time in Spain.
But Don Balon claim Ronaldo has backed Benzema to stay and help fire the club back to the top of La Liga next term.
Madrid are battling for second place at present, after Barcelona wrapped up the title against Deportivo last week.