In a stunning turn of events, Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus.
A rapidly evolving transfer saga saw the Red Devils usurp Manchester City in the race for the 36-year-old, with reports emerging on Friday afternoon that the Cityzens would not be signing Ronaldo.
The path was clear for United to swoop, and swoop they did. After Ronaldo left Continassa for the very last time on Friday morning, he left Turin in his private jet with Manchester his intended destination. However, it wasn’t yet clear whether he’d complete a stunning reunion.
Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News, though, writes that Ronaldo’s mind was made up when Sir Alex Ferguson convinced the 36-year-old to re-join the club after departing way back in 2009.
The all-time great claimed three Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Ballon d’Or and two PFA Player of the Year awards during his first spell at United.
What are the terms?
A sticking point in Man City’s approach for the player was Juventus’ valuation. City were unwilling to pay a fee for the player, while the Bianconeri initially held out for at least €25m.
Welcome 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲, @Cristiano 🔴#MUFC | #Ronaldo
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 27, 2021
However, David Ornstein of The Athletic writes that Ronaldo joins United for a fee that could rise to €23m (including add-ons), with the player signing a two-year deal at the club.
His medical is scheduled for the weekend.
What now for Juventus?
Romeo Agresti (via Forza Juventus) understands that Juventus are happy to have got Ronaldo off their books, especially from a financial perspective. His £510,000-a-week wage will be a huge weight lifted off the club in the current context.
The Bianconeri will now go in search of a replacement before the deadline closes. Moise Kean looks like the club’s priority target, although several names have been touted as possibilities. These include Mauro Icardi, Gianluca Scamacca and even Timo Werner.