Why Did Ronaldo Leave Real Madrid? The Real Reasons Behind His 2018 Transfer
Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid in July 2018, joining Juventus for a reported €100 million transfer fee after nine seasons at the Spanish club. His departure came shortly after Real Madrid won a third consecutive UEFA Champions League title, making the decision seem surprising. It was not caused by one single event, but by several issues that had built up over time.
Why Ronaldo left Real Madrid
The main factors were his contract situation, his relationship with club president Florentino Pérez, legal problems in Spain and his wish to take on a different challenge. Ronaldo was also approaching his mid-thirties and understood that a major transfer would be harder to arrange later in his career.
Contract and salary disagreements
Ronaldo believed his performances justified a new contract and a salary closer to the highest-paid players in world football. He had signed an improved Real Madrid deal in 2016, but the market changed quickly as other elite players received larger contracts.
Reports at the time suggested that Ronaldo felt undervalued compared with Lionel Messi at Barcelona and Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain. Real Madrid were not willing to meet every demand, and the disagreement damaged the relationship between the player and the club. Ronaldo publicly hinted at uncertainty about his future after the Champions League final in May 2018, before confirming the transfer after the World Cup.
A strained relationship with Florentino Pérez
Ronaldo’s relationship with Florentino Pérez was another important part of the story. The forward wanted clear support from the president, including recognition of his status and a commitment to improved terms. Ronaldo later indicated that he no longer felt the same level of backing from the club’s leadership.
The disagreement was not simply about money. It reflected a broader dispute over how Real Madrid valued Ronaldo and how long the club intended to build around him. After winning four Champions League titles with Madrid, he may also have felt that his contribution was not being acknowledged in the way he expected.
His tax case in Spain
Ronaldo was also dealing with a Spanish tax case. Spanish prosecutors accused him of defrauding the authorities of millions of euros through the handling of image-rights income. Ronaldo denied deliberately committing fraud, but the case created significant personal and professional pressure.
In 2018, he accepted a suspended prison sentence and a large fine as part of an agreement with Spanish authorities. The tax dispute did not directly force the transfer, yet it contributed to his frustration with life in Spain. Ronaldo reportedly felt that he was being treated unfairly and became more open to leaving Real Madrid.
Why Juventus was the right destination
Juventus offered Ronaldo a high-profile move, a strong salary and the chance to compete in another major European league. The Italian club also gave him a central role in its Champions League ambitions. Ronaldo had already achieved almost everything available at Real Madrid: domestic trophies, four Champions League titles and the club’s all-time scoring record.
The transfer therefore made sporting and commercial sense for both sides. Juventus gained one of the world’s most recognisable players, while Ronaldo moved to a new competition and could attempt to win the Champions League with a third club. The deal also allowed Real Madrid to receive a substantial fee for a player who was 33 years old.
Did Ronaldo leave because of Zinedine Zidane?
No clear evidence shows that Ronaldo left Real Madrid because of Zinedine Zidane. Zidane resigned as head coach shortly after the 2018 Champions League final, but Ronaldo’s transfer was mainly linked to his own contract dispute, relationship with the club and personal circumstances.
Zidane’s departure did add to the uncertainty at Real Madrid, especially because the coach had worked closely with Ronaldo during three successive Champions League victories. However, the transfer discussions were already shaped by issues that went beyond the manager.
What happened after the transfer?
Ronaldo spent three seasons at Juventus, scoring regularly and winning two Serie A titles and the Coppa Italia. The club, however, did not win the Champions League during his time in Turin. He returned to Manchester United in 2021 before moving to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia in 2022.
Real Madrid initially struggled to replace his goals, although the club continued to win major trophies in the years that followed. Ronaldo’s move to Juventus is best understood as the result of a contract breakdown and growing dissatisfaction, combined with the appeal of a final major challenge outside Spain—not as a decision caused by one match or one argument.
