Three clubs Cristiano Ronaldo could join in January

Cristiano Ronaldo's time at Manchester United is coming to an end, with the Portugal international widely expected to leave the Red Devils during the January transfer window.

There had already been speculation surrounding the 37-year-old's future before he gave an interview to Piers Morgan criticising the club, including head coach Erik ten Hag and the owners.

Ronaldo has surely now played his last game for Man United, but he has a contract with the 20-time English champions until the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

A recent report claimed that the Red Devils could look to sack the forward due to his recent comments, so there is a chance that he could be available for free at the start of 2023.

Here, Sports Mole looks at three clubs potentially in the running for his signature.

© Reuters

Sporting Lisbon

Ronaldo started his career at Sporting, and it has always been thought that he would return to the Portuguese giants before he decides to hang up his boots.

As it stands, the Green and Whites are viewed as the favourites for the attacker, who is currently preparing to represent Portugal at the 2022 World Cup.

Sporting president Frederico Varandas has refused to rule out a future move for Ronaldo, while the club's head coach Ruben Amorim also recently spoke highly about the forward.

Returning to Sporting would allow Ronaldo to continue playing at a high level in European football, although they failed to make it through their Champions League group, so he would not have the chance to add to his tally in that competition in the second half of the campaign.

© Reuters

Chelsea

Chelsea were linked with Ronaldo over the summer, but Thomas Tuchel, who was head coach at the time, is believed to have made it clear that he did not want the forward.

If recent reports are to be believed, then current manager Graham Potter is also not in favour of the experienced striker joining the club in January.

However, Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is believed to be determined to sign Ronaldo, and it would not be a shock to see him move to Stamford Bridge at the start of 2023.

Unlike Sporting, the Blues did qualify for the knockout round of the Champions League, which might play a key role in Ronaldo's decision-making when it comes to a potential move after the World Cup.

© Reuters

Napoli

Napoli are an attractive club for any player at the moment, with the Blues currently top of Serie A, eight points clear of second-placed AC Milan.

Meanwhile, Luciano Spalletti's side were excellent in the group stage of the Champions League, winning five of their six matches to top Group A and breeze into the next round.

Napoli will take on Eintracht Frankfurt in the last-16 stage of the European Cup, and they are definitely potential dark horses for the competition due to their form this term.

Victor Osimhen is the side's starting centre-forward, and the club would have to decide whether Ronaldo's introduction would potentially upset the flow of the team.

However, the chance to bring in the Portuguese on a free transfer would surely appeal to the Italian outfit, who are capable of enjoying a spectacular season.