Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t the only player using the World Cup as a shop window to seal a January move

No competition in world football offers a better showcase for players out of favor than the FIFA World Cup.

With Russia’s 2018 tournament attracting a record 3.5 billion viewers worldwide, the World Cup could single-handedly grow or break a player’s stock in the upcoming January transfer window.

It comes as no surprise, then, that Manchester United outcast Cristiano Ronaldo chose this week to show the world his explosive bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, using the World Cup break as a chance to remind potential suitors of his alien talents – and his desire to relocate.

A prolific World Cup campaign could be just the nudge that Chelsea, Bayern Munich, who Sportsmail exclusively revealed met Ronaldo last week, and Napoli must submit bids for Ronaldo in January, with the Portuguese star all but destined to leave Old Trafford. abandoned after being publicly tarnished. the club’s reputation.

And Ronaldo isn’t the only out-of-favor international eager to leave next summer, with several players remaining on the bench or out of contract next year.

With the tournament fast approaching, Sports mail has drawn up a list of six stars likely to use the World Cup as a platform to secure a transfer.

Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United, Portugal

Where else to start?

It is the point of no return for Ronaldo at Manchester United, and his telling interview has made clubs well aware of his intention to move sooner rather than later.

Of course, the field of potential suitors is limited if he is to keep his reported £500,000-a-week contract, with few clubs able to afford his monstrous salary.

Sports mail revealed on Monday that Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes has approached Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Napoli, Sporting Lisbon and Newcastle in a bid to secure his escape from Old Trafford, but few clubs seem interested at this stage.

A favorite of Portugal coach Fernando Santos, Ronaldo will undoubtedly play a vital role in what will be his final World Cup, and it is likely that the team will play tactically to its strengths throughout the tournament.

In a seemingly friendly group alongside Ghana, South Korea and the dark horses Uruguay, Portugal have a real chance to get deep into the tournament, meaning more playing time and exposure for the 37-year-old superstar.

As Portugal’s free-kick and penalty taker, there is also a good chance that Ronaldo will be fighting for the golden boot at the end of the tournament, should his country push deep into the knockouts.

Hakim Ziyech – Chelsea, Morocco

At club level, there is no denying that Ziyech is a small fish in a big pond. In Morocco, however, the winger is perhaps his country’s talisman.

At the last World Cup in 2018, Ziyech was one of the most sought-after talents in all of Europe, having almost led Ajax to the Champions League final before the tournament.

But now, with just two starts in all competitions this season, it’s clear the Moroccan is no longer part of Chelsea’s long-term plans for the future.

In a group alongside Croatia who finished second in 2018 and Belgium, who finished third, Morocco will undoubtedly have a tough job advancing to the knockouts, even if they manage to beat Canada in their final group game.

However, if Ziyech causes a stir in either of the first two games and reminds the world of his prowess on the right flank, a healthy line of clubs will be lining up to sign him in January.

Christian Pulisic – Chelsea, USA

Another troubled Chelsea star, Pulisic has also struggled for game time this season, starting just three Premier League games so far.

However, it is likely that minutes won’t be an issue for the US winger at the World Cup as the US made an effort to surprise a few with their talented young roster.

AC Milan full-back Sergino Dest, Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie and Borussia Dortmund youngster Gio Reyna all join Pulisic in Gregg Berhalter’s group, giving the 24-year-old enough talented team-mates to play alongside him as he looks to conquer the world. shine phase.

Pulisic was linked with Manchester United in the summer when Erik ten Hag showed interest in the winger, and fruitful performances against England, Iran and Wales could tempt the Red Devils to go again in January.

In particular, should Pulisic want to secure a Premier League transfer, there are few better teams to play at the World Cup than England in terms of notoriety.

Youri Tielemans – Leicester, Belgium

It looked like Tielemans would leave Leicester this summer, especially as the Foxes made numerous changes to their selection with the departure of Kasper Schmeichel and Wesley Fofana.

And yet, although the Belgian stuck around for another year, it looks increasingly likely that the midfielder will leave the King Power Stadium at least next summer, as his contract expires in June.

His footballing prowess alone will make Tielemans have no trouble signing up potential prospects this summer, but perhaps Leicester’s poor form at the start of the season has made several European giants hesitant to sign the playmaker, which could affect his future prospects in the Champions League harms football next season.

Joining Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Romelu Lukaku on international duty, Tielemans has every chance to do very well at the World Cup and boost his stock ahead of the January transfer window.

As his contract expires this summer, clubs outside England can approach the midfielder six months in advance for a free transfer. Tielemans hopes Europe’s top clubs will line up in January after delivering a strong World Cup performance. .

Joao Felix – Atletico Madrid, Portugal

Joao Felix, who has fallen out of favor with Atletico Madrid this season, has started just five LaLiga games this season under Diego Simeone and is struggling to justify his whopping £110m price tag.

The Portuguese striker is weighing his options in the Spanish capital for next summer and the World Cup could be the perfect opportunity to show what he can do.

With a starting spot under Santos far from guaranteed, with Ronaldo, Milan striker Rafael Leao and Manchester City star Bernardo Silva competing in the front three, Felix is ​​likely to tire of a run-out in the Portugal squad.

Manchester United had reportedly turned down a £113 million bid for Felix during the summer transfer window before signing Antony, but it is clear that Ten Hag remains interested in the Portugal international.

A solid World Cup performance could also force Simeone to rethink his first-team plans when LaLiga returns.

In what has become the most challenging period of Felix’s career to date, the World Cup could prove to be a make-or-break tournament for the 23-year-old as he attempts to revive his career.

Memphis Depay – Barcelona, ​​Netherlands

It seems that no matter how well Depay performs for his domestic side, he always delivers the goods for the Netherlands on the international scene.

With a prolific record of 42 goals in 81 caps, Depay has been a crucial aspect of Louis van Gaal’s side during his tenure as manager, giving the Netherlands an edge in attack.

A few eyebrows were raised when the 28-year-old was named in the Netherlands’ World Cup squad, as he hasn’t played a single minute of football since he was injured in September, but the squad shows just how highly regarded he is in their squad. nationwide setup.

As for Barcelona, ​​Depay struggled to break into Xavi’s first team before the injury, only making three guest appearances at the start of the season.

With star forwards Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha this summer reinforcing their front three, Depay looks unlikely to be part of Barcelona’s long-term future, and the Dutchman will no doubt be looking to move in January.

With a strong World Cup showing in front of goal, Depay could move closer to Robin van Persie’s record 50 for the Netherlands and remind the European giants of his top-level goal-scoring talents.