Luis Figo insists Barcelona could sign Cristiano Ronaldo if the Real Madrid superstar's release clause is triggered. The Portugal legend famously crossed the Clasico divide in 2000 when Real Madrid paid his £37.2m buyout clause, then a world record fee for a player, and underlines how a similar move could happen today. Ronaldo, who was recently crowned Europe's Best Player for a second time, reportedly has a buyout clause in his Madrid contract worth €1.5 billion [£1.25bn] and Figo does not believe a possible switch to Barcelona is off the cards for his compatriot.
"We are in a free market," he told Record. "If there is a termination clause, anything can happen." Talking of his own move from Barcelona 15 years ago, he added: "The first reason was for Real was the recognition by the president of Real Madrid. So things were getting more serious and I received the offer and I reported it [to Barcelona] with a view to improving my contract."