Cristiano Ronaldo has been linked with a move to Manchester United for months. While the striker has presumably shared his interest in returning to his first club, some believe that these rumors are nothing more than tactics to get what he wants from Real Madrid.

ESPN's Musa Okwanga wrote an article in which he hypothesized that Ronaldo's perceived desire to leave Real Madrid was nothing more than a ploy to get his current club to raise its offer to make him stay. Okwanga describes how Ronaldinho did the same when he was being pursued by Manchester United and Barcelona. In the end, the Brazilian earned a tremendous offer from the Catalan club.

"It would be romantic indeed if Ronaldo were to go back to Old Trafford; so much so, that it is tempting to be seduced by such a wonderful notion. But the logic which is most compelling at the moment is that of the money men," wrote Okwanga. "Robbie Fowler once said that 'there is no sentiment in football.' Sadly, this situation does not appear to be the exception to that rule."

Ronaldo has created a great deal of controversy in the past week. Outgoing Madrid coach Jose Mourinho recently stated that his relationship with the superstar fell apart as the season progressed because Ronaldo did not like criticism.

"Cristiano Ronaldo maybe thinks that he knows everything and that the coach cannot improve him anymore," Mourinho said. "I had a very basic problem with him: criticize him from a tactical point of view, in that moment he did not accept it very well."

Ronaldo is signed with Real Madrid until 2015. Club President Florentino Perez recently stated that he has no intention of selling his talisman. "I will do everything in my power to renew the contract. He has two years left on his contract, he is the best in the world and we would like to give a boost to the team with him as a leader and an emblem," said Perez. "I would not sell him for 1,000 million euros (1 billion Euros). We are not a selling club."