If Ronaldo leaves United for Real Madrid I can die happy, says his influential mum
Cristiano Ronaldo has been urged to quit Manchester United for Real Madrid... by his own mum.
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The Portugal winger is currently enjoying his best-ever season at Old Trafford, and heads the Premier League's goalscoring charts with 23.
Ronaldo, 22, is a long-time target for Spanish giants Real.
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Mum's the word: Cristiano Ronaldo is starring for United but his mum wants to see him move to the Spanish capital
And now the Madeira-born player's mother, Dolores Aveiro, has told him to swap United for the La Liga leaders - insisting it is her lifetime's dream to see him play at the Bernabeu.
Dolores has previously had a strong influence on her son's career. She persuaded him to join his first club, Nacional, against his own wishes and those of his father Denis - who favoured Ronaldo going to Madeira's biggest club Maritimo.
When the winger was 14 she talked him out of joining Benfica in favour of Sporting Lisbon - and in 2003 Ronaldo followed her advice to sign for United.
Now she believes the time is ripe for him to move on once again.
"Real Madrid are my favourite team, and they are the best club in the world," Dolores declared.
"If Cristiano leaves England it's clear in my mind that I would love him to join Real. I don't want to die without seeing my son playing for them. But if he does then I can die happy, having fulfilled a dream.
"If he goes to Madrid then I will go over to live with him. It is a city that I love.
"Perhaps he may not be able to make the move right now. But maybe in a year or two's time?"
