Manchester United icon Cristiano Ronaldo has shared his thoughts on the growing transfer fees for defenders and goalkeepers, with comments made after Harry Maguire's world-record move to Old Trafford.
United paid £80million to bring Maguire to the club from Leicester City, surpassing the previous record of £75m that was set by Liverpool FC's capture of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton. Most United fans think the fee was worth it - with Maguire already enjoying a strong start to his United career and showing his leadership qualities.
On top of that, deals worth in excess of £100m have become more common, with Joao Felix and Antoine Griezmann both moving for an astronomical price this summer.
Ronaldo believes Atletico Madrid's deal for his compatriot Joao Felix is an exception but stated his belief that transfer fees are getting out of hand, particularly regarding defensive players.
"It's difficult to make calculations in modern football. [Clubs] gamble a lot on potential and the football industry is different," he told Portuguese channel TV1.
"Leaving the case of Joao Felix to the side, any player can go for 100 million euros, even without showing anything. There is more money in football.
"A centre back and a goalkeeper can go for 70 or 80 million euros. I don't agree [with it] but it's the world that we live in and you have to respect it."
Ronaldo, who left Real Madrid for Juventus last summer, was then asked how much he believes he would be worth in the current market and suggested his services could be worth over €400m.
"When I see goalkeepers selling for 75 million euros, a player who does what I do on the pitch and who scores goals is worth three, four times more. easy," he declared.
