Why Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s statement confirming the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus last night made clear at the La Liga giant had “accepted the player’s wish to leave” — but avoided revealing the real reasons why they had decided now was a good time to let the current world’s best player leave.

“These years at Real Madrid and in this city of Madrid have been possibly the happiest of my life,” Ronaldo said in an open letter to fans.