Cristiano Ronaldo Drops $18.5M on NYC loft
The Real star reportedly prefers joining MLS in LA, but his New York real estate deal could point speculation to NYCFC or the Red Bulls.
OMNISPORT
If Cristiano Ronaldo has bought a place to live in New York City, does that mean he'll play there, too — on the pitch, that is?
The Real Madrid star, 30, closed last week on 2,509 square foot loft on Fifth Avenue, paying $18.5 million for the Trump Tower apartment, the New York Post reported.
Ronaldo has been linked to moving to Major League Soccer when his Real contract expires in 2018. The home purchase adds fuel to the speculation that he could join international stars Frank Lampard, David Villa and Andrea Pirlo with New York City FC.
The New Jersey-based Red Bulls also could be a possibility, although SI.com reported that Los Angeles — either the Galaxy or LAFC — is the Portuguese star's preferred destination.
No matter, the purchase of the property from Italian real-estate mogul Alessandro Proto, a partner of Donald Trump, has the rumor mill turning.
