In an ever-changing transfer saga, Manchester City are no longer in talks to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, with the Portuguese forward now potentially returning to former club Manchester United.
Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes has approached the Old Trafford club to propose a deal that would see the Juventus wantaway return to the red side of Manchester after 13 years.
Juventus manager Max Allegri confirmed Ronaldo will be departing Italy in a press conference earlier today:
"Yesterday, speaking with Cristiano, he told me that he has no intention to stay at Juventus and for this reason, he will not be called up tomorrow and he didn't train this morning. I'm absolutely not disappointed, because Cristiano took his own decision. He was here for three years, he gave his contribution, he put himself at Juventus' disposal, and now he's leaving and life goes on. Cristiano did a lot for this club, he's a great champion, I wish him all the luck in the world wherever he will play. He is only to be thanked for what he did for Juventus."
Ronaldo spent an hour and a half at Juve's Continassa training ground this morning to say his goodbyes. He subsequently left and boarded a private jet directed to Lisbon
Cristiano is in the final year of his contract worth around £500,000-per-week and the Italian giants are asking any suitor to pay a €25m (£21.3m) transfer fee.
Earlier today, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refused to deny speculation linking the Reds with his former team-mate.
Manchester United manager Solskjaer: “Cristiano Ronaldo? We've always had a good communication. Bruno has been talking to him as well and he knows what we feel about him. If he was ever going to move away from Juventus, he knows WE ARE HERE”. ??? #MUFC #Ronaldo
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2021
Ronaldo spent 5 years at Old Trafford, departing for Real Madrid in a then world record deal of £80m. He scored 118 goals and won the UEFA Champions League, three Premier League titles and the FA Cup in his development under Sir Alex Ferguson.
