Cristiano Ronaldo is closing in on a sensational return to Old Trafford after Manchester United made an official approach to Juventus to sign him on a two-year deal.
United are in the final stages of sealing the surprise transfer 12 years after Ronaldo was sold to Real Madrid having offered €25m plus add-ons to the Italian club. The 36-year-old is now expected to agree a contract for the next two seasons and have a medical after Ole Gunnar Solskjær admitted that he would welcome back a “legend” of the club.
Read Also: Rape charges: Man City’s Benjamin Mendy remanded in custody
Manchester City had seemed the most likely destination for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner until Friday morning. But after a whirlwind 48 hours that saw Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, hold talks with Juventus officials in Turin on Wednesday over a potential move to the Etihad Stadium, City confirmed on Friday lunchtime that they were no longer interested.
Ronaldo has less than 12 months of his contract with Juventus that is worth an estimated €31m a season after tax and it is understood that City were reluctant to pay a fee for a player who will turn 37 in February having also never agreed personal terms over a proposed two-year contract. It is understood that United have agreed a deal in principle with the Italian club with a view to re-signing the player that joined from Sporting Lisbon as a teenager and spent six seasons at Old Trafford before moving to Madrid for a world record £80m in 2009.
Earlier, Solskjær hinted that United could attempt to trump their neighbours by signing Ronaldo, admitting that midfielder Bruno Fernandes had been in touch with his Portugal team-mate.
“I didn’t think Ronaldo was going to turn out leaving Juventus and if it’s been speculation this morning, speculation the last few days, of course,” said Solskjær. “We’ve always had good communication, I know Bruno [Fernandes] has been talking to him as well and he knows what we feel about him and if he was ever going to move away from Juventus, he knows that we are here.
“We focus on the ones we have here, I don’t want to speculate too much on what is happening there in the press. I’ve said many times with speculations that when you are at Man United, when you’re Messi, when you’re Ronaldo, when you’re Pogba, you have to read a lot about yourself, so let’s see what happens with Ronaldo as he’s such a legend of this club.”
Speaking before City’s meeting with Arsenal on Saturday at the same time as his United counterpart, Guardiola seemed resigned to the prospect of missing out on Ronaldo having also seen previous target Harry Kane commit to staying at Tottenham earlier this week.
“The only I can say I think there is three or four days left until the transfer window shuts so anything can happen but in my personal view there are few players, Cristiano Ronaldo is included and Messi of course, they decide where they are going to play,” he said. “They have the leading role in the negotiations in where they want to play and right now this is my feeling that I am more delighted with the squad I have and we will say the same.
Guardiola added:” We are the same guys, except one player leaves, Sergio [Agüero], and Jack [Grealish] arrives and I am focused on the players I have. I say the same: these type of players decide. A little bit less now because we have to negotiate but for example Messi decides himself where he wants to play. He decides to go to Paris, he goes to Paris. These players decide. They knock the door. They go. After that there are situations I cannot control because it is not my business and I am focused to do what we have to do and the players we have right now.”
The Juventus coach, Massimiliano Allegri, also revealed that Ronaldo informed him of his intention to move on ahead of their trip to face Empoli in Serie A on Saturday.
“Yesterday [Thursday], Cristiano told me that he no longer has any intention to play for Juventus. For this reason he will not be called up for tomorrow’s game,” said Allegri. “Cristiano is to be thanked for what he has done, also as an example amongst the youngsters. But as I said, we must go on. Things change, it’s a law of life. Juventus remains, which is the most important thing. Cristiano gave his contribution, he made himself available, now he leaves and life goes on.”
