Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has added fuel to the rumors of him going to the MLS in the near future.

The FIFA Ballon d'Or winner bought a New York City apartment for a massive $18.5 million according to the New York Post.

The deal was said to be completed last week, making Ronaldo an official New York resident. The apartment in the famed Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue was formerly owned by Italian business mogul Alessandro Proto, who was a partner of presidential candidate Donald Trump.

In a report from Sports Illustrated, Ronaldo is keen on joining the MLS once his Real Madrid contract expires in 2018. His preferred destination is Los Angeles, either for Los Angeles Galaxy or the soon-to-be MLS team Los Angeles FC.

The new Los Angeles FC are going to the MLS in 2018, just in time for Ronaldo's contract expiry. The team will replace Chivas USA and are led by NBA legend Magic Johnson, Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan and former NBA executive Tom Penn, among 22 other wealthy individuals in a report from The Mirror.

A source of the news outlet said, "The league will be even stronger by then. He'd be a franchise player for them and truly announce their arrival, and they think they can sell him the 'American Dream.'"

Another player targeted by Los Angeles FC is Manchester United's Wayne Rooney. The England captain spends his holidays in the Los Angeles area and will be beneficial in recruiting Ronaldo. The two players were part of the 2008 Champions League-winning Manchester United.

However, by buying an apartment in New York, Ronaldo might be going to Manchester City-owned New York FC or the New York Red Bulls. A lot of soccer stars have joined MLS after their prime careers in Europe.

David Beckham was the first star to jump ship from Europe to the USA. He was followed by players like Thierry Henry, Robbie Keane, Clint Dempsey, David Villa, Ricardo Kaká, Frank Lampard, Sebastian Giovinco, Steven Gerrard, Didier Drogba and Andrea Pirlo.

The addition of the two-time World Player of the Year is a major boost to the MLS. The MLS have been growing for the past years since the World Cups in South Africa and Brazil.

Ronaldo signed a five-year contract extension with Madrid in 2015. That contract, according to Forbes, is worth $206 million.

You can view the photos of the beautiful L-type, 2,500-square-foot apartment of Ronaldo in an article from Business Insider.

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