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Cristiano Ronaldo: Manchester United the front runners as City drop interest

By James Cormack

ALLIANZ STADIUM, TORINO, ITALY - 2021/08/14: Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus Fc during warm up before the pre-season friendly match between Juventus Fc and Atalanta Bc. Juventus Fc wins 3-1 over Atalanta Bc. (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)
ALLIANZ STADIUM, TORINO, ITALY - 2021/08/14: Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus Fc during warm up before the pre-season friendly match between Juventus Fc and Atalanta Bc. Juventus Fc wins 3-1 over Atalanta Bc. (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images) /
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Manchester United have seized pole position in the race to sign Cristiano Ronaldo after Manchester City dropped their interest.

Ronaldo left the Juventus training ground for the very last time on Friday morning having told the club of his desire to leave before the transfer deadline.

Initially, it seemed that Man City were the clear front runners after Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain had ruled themselves out of the race, but their crosstown rivals suddenly entered the picture and swiflty usurped the Cityzens.

The BBC’s Simon Stone was the first to report that City will not be signing Ronaldo, with Fabrizio Romano adding that they’ve decided to leave negotiations for the 36-year-old. Contrary to other reports, City never agreed personal terms with Ronaldo, nor a fee with Juventus.

United are now the firm favourites to sign the wantaway Bianconeri forward.

United in talks

A quite stunning reunion. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
A quite stunning reunion. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images) /

The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell writes that the Red Devils are lining up a stunning reunion with the all-time great, 12 years after he left the club in a record-breaking move to Real Madrid.

Whitwell reports that United are currently in talks to sign the player, while Fabrizio Romano adds that the club have been in direct contact with Mendes since Thursday night and are preparing a bid to Juventus. An official proposal is coming “soon”.

The Bianconeri are demanding a fee in the region of €30 for Ronaldo’s services, although they don’t have much leverage considering the player’s desperation to leave.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, meanwhile, added fuel to the fire when he said: “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.

“Cristiano is a legend of this club, the greatest player of all time if you ask me. I was fortunate enough to play with him. I coached him when I got my job. Let’s see what happens,” he added.

Allegri’s confirmation

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri held a press conference ahead of his side’s clash against Empoli in Serie A on Saturday night. In the presser, Allegri confirmed reports that Ronaldo had told him and the club of his desire to leave: “Yesterday, Cristiano told me that he no longer has any intention to play for Juventus,” he said, candidly.

“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. He is to be thanked for what he has done, also as an example amongst the youngsters. But as I said, we must go on,” Allegri finished.

Football, eh? Bloody hell.

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