Manchester City are hoping to pull off a sensational attempt to sign Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portugal forward’s representative held talks with Juventus over a potential return to the Premier League.
The 36-year-old has less than 12 months left of his deal with the Italian club that is worth an estimated €31m a season after tax, having moved to Serie A from Real Madrid in 2018. Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, was in Turin on Wednesday to discuss the former Manchester United forward’s future after weeks of speculation, with Juventus understood to want a fee of between €25 and €30m.
City have yet to table a formal bid but it is understood that they are expected to submit one in the coming hours after Ronaldo said he wanted to leave Serie A and will not be available for their match against Empoli on Saturday. Mendes is now discussing contract with City, who will offer the five-time Ballon d’Or winner a new two-year deal having missed out on signing Harry Kane from Tottenham.
Negotiations are ongoing, although personal terms of more than £250,000 a week are believed to have been discussed, with Raheem Sterling among the players who could leave the Etihad Stadium should Ronaldo arrive. The England forward has only two years left on his contract and had been due to discuss an extension in the coming weeks, while Bernardo Silva is another who could depart if City receive suitable bids.
Juventus have also expressed an interest in signing Gabriel Jesus, although Pep Guardiola would like to keep the Brazil forward having already lost Sergio Agüero from his squad. Guardiola announced on Wednesday that he plans to leave City when his contract runs out in 2023.
Ronaldo, who spent six seasons at Old Trafford after signing from Sporting Lisbon as a teenager, was linked with a return to Real Madrid this month but released a statement criticising what he called “frivolous” speculation over his future.
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“My story at Real Madrid has been written. It’s been recorded. In words and numbers, in trophies and titles, in records and in headlines,” he wrote on Instagram.
“It’s in the museum at the Bernabéu stadium and it’s also in the minds of every fan of the club. And beyond what I achieved, I remember that in those nine years I had a relationship of deep affection and respect for ‘merengue afición’, an affection and respect that I retain to this day, and that I will always cherish. I know that the true Real Madrid fans will continue to have me in their hearts, and I will have them in mine.”
