Portuguese International and five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo makes a return to Old Trafford after 12 years since his departure from the club.
According to sources, Manchester United has agreed a transfer fee in the region of €28million to re-sign one of the greatest footballers in the game’s history.
“Manchester United is delighted to confirm that the club has reached agreement with Juventus for the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo, subject to agreement of personal terms, visa and medical”, United said in a statement.
According to Manchester Evening News (MEN), Juventus still owe money on the €100m fee they agreed to sign Ronaldo for in 2018 and want it covered by United. Meanwhile, the deal has been described by sources privy to negotiations as ‘amortised’.
In the latest of a string of exclusives, the MEN revealed United are planning a medical for Ronaldo in Lisbon and the 36-year-old is set to sign a two-year contract worth £480,000 per week.
Unsuccessful move to City
Yesterday there were rumours of the player making a possible move to rivals Manchester City. But, the MEN was the first to reveal that the United owners, the Glazer family, had sanctioned a belated move for Ronaldo when he appeared set to join Manchester City.
City has ended their interest in Ronaldo, although the MEN understands Ronaldo informed them he was no longer interested once United contacted him.
The MEN also revealed Sir Alex Ferguson spoke with Ronaldo on Friday morning, when City were the only club interested in signing him from Juventus.
As such, it is now definite that Ferguson’s intervention, as well as the backing of the Glazers, prompted the goal magician, Ronaldo to settle on a homecoming at United.
Meanwhile, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke extensively about his former teammate Ronaldo at his pre-match press conference on Friday. At that time, the Manager was determined to clinch the resigning of Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I didn’t think Cristiano was going to leave Juventus. But if ever he is going to move away from Juventus he knows we are here.
“We’ve always had a good communication, Bruno [Fernandes] has been talking to him as well. He knows how we feel about him.
“He is a legend of this club, the greatest players of all time if you ask me. So let’s see what happens with him”.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Even though Ronaldo could not help Juventus win the UCL and the Serie A title last season, his contribution and performance in the club was marvellous. The Portugal star netted 100 goals in 131 games for Juventus and has become the first Juventus player to ever do so in less than three seasons.
Accolades of Ronaldo
Undoubtedly, CR7 as he is affectionately called, is one of the most decorated on the planet having won several trophies in almost all the major leagues in the world.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has so far won over 30 major trophies during his career. This includes five UEFA Champions League titles, four FIFA Club World Cups, seven league titles in England, Spain and Italy. He was also instrumental in 2016 when Portugal won the European Championship hosted by France.
Ronaldo joined Manchester United as a teenager at age 18 in 2003. In his first spell for Manchester United, he scored 118 goals in 292 games.
Ronaldo won the first of his five Champions League titles and was first crowned the world’s best player during six years at United between 2003 and 2009. As such, everyone at the club looks forward to welcoming Cristiano back to Manchester.
The return of CR7 to United will further boost their chances of clinching the title this season. Currently United lies 6th on the league log with 4 points in two games.
Ronaldo will also play a prominent role in this year’s UEFA Champions League as Manchester United and Villarreal face off in a rematch of last season’s UEFA Europa League decider in Group F.
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