13 players who have signed for old rivals as Ronaldo linked to Man City

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Cristiano Ronaldo has been linked with a sensational return to Manchester this summer, but agent Jorge Mendes has reportedly offered him to former rivals City, according to Corriere Dello Sport.

The Portuguese forward only has 10 months remaining on his contract with Juventus, and the 36-year-old has been linked with a move away from Turin following uncertainties over his future.

City have been looking for a new striker and recent performances have highlighted their need for a no.9, but a deal for Tottenham's Harry Kane is proving ever more difficult.

However, according to the Italian outlet, Mendes has offered City the alternative of signing Ronaldo, and Juventus could be prepared to sell the star for just £25million.

If the move was to happen, Ronaldo would join an elite list of stars that have signed for their ex-clubs bitter rivals…

1. Robin van Persie

It was announced by Arsenal in 2012 that Robin van Persie would be joining fierce rivals Manchester United for £24million, and it did not go down well in north London.

Not only had van Persie joined their Premier League enemy after eight years with the Gunners, it highlighted Arsenal's lack of ambition to the fans.

The Dutchman took United's no.20 shirt, after coach Rene Meulensteen convinced him that he would lead them to their 20th league title, which was exactly what he did.

United won the title that season, and van Persie scored 26 goals for his new club, also scoring home and away against Arsenal that year.

2. Michael Owen

Michael Owen was adored by Liverpool fans as the forward came up through the academy and burst onto the scene.

Following his call up to the first team, Owen's career took off, and 158 goals followed in eight seasons with his home club.

In 2004, Owen joined Real Madrid but was respected by the Liverpool faithful and left the club as a legend. However, this was ruined in 2009.

Owen joined Manchester United on a pay-as-you-play basis due to the striker's injury problems, but was labelled as a snake for his move, with the majority of Liverpool fans maintaining 'once a Manc, never a Red'.

3. Sol Campbell

In 2001, Sol Campbell outraged Tottenham fans by making a direct switch to arch-rivals Arsenal.

After months of negotiations over a new deal, Campbell decided that he needed to play Champions League football and left Tottenham for nothing, moving across north London to the Gunners on a free transfer.

Spurs fans branded Campbell a 'Judas' and presented signs and banners whenever he returned to White Hart Lane.

After years had passed since the incident, Sol Campbell spoke to Sky Sports and said: "I’m sorry how it happened. I’m not going to apologise for the move (to Arsenal) because I was very successful. I’m sorry about the hurt it inflicted on them.”

The 'apology' didn't help.

4. Carlos Tevez

Carlos Tevez joined Manchester United in 2007, and made up a vicious attack with Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, but it was clear towards the end of the 2008/09 season that he would leave the club.

United tried to tie down Tevez to a bumper contract, and would've made him one of the top earners at the club, but the Argentine joined neighbours City, who were quickly becoming serious contenders in the Premier League.

When Tevez joined City, the club installed a poster in Manchester which read "Welcome to Manchester", in a jibe at their United neighbours.

United replicated the stunt 12 years later, when announcing the signing of former Citizen Jadon Sancho, so it clearly got to the Red Devils.

5. Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole will always be go down in Arsenal history as a member of the 2004 invincibles squad, but will also go down in history for a different reason with the Gunners fans.

Despite achieving this feat with Arsenal. Cole's head was turned by Chelsea and the defender was fined £75,000 in 2005 for making contact with Jose Mourinho's side while still contracted at Highbury.

Cole stayed at Arsenal for the following season, and the club offered him an improved £55,000-a-week salary, which angered the left-back, who left for Chelsea the following year for £90,000-a-week.

Arsenal fans branded Cole as 'Cashley Cole' and waved fake money at the defender as Chelsea travelled to the Gunners the next season.

6. Cesc Fabregas

Cesc Fabregas left Arsenal as a legend in 2011, after becoming the Gunners captain in 2008 before returning to boyhood club FC Barcelona.

The Spaniard had a successful three years with the Catalan club but returned to the Premier League in 2014 to sign for Chelsea.

Although Fabregas has always been vocal about his love for Arsenal, this angered the Gunners fans, as they saw another one of their former heroes join their hated Blue rivals.

Fabregas is a rare exception on this list however, as he seems to have won back a lot of the Arsenal faithful, due to his undeniable love for the club.

7. Eric Cantona

Is Leeds United's decision to sell Eric Cantona one of the worst in league history? Comment below

One player that certainly hasn't won back his former fans is Eric Cantona.

Discussions between Leeds United and Manchester United began as Leeds' managing director Bill Fotherby attempted to re-sign Denis Irwin, but with United struggling for goals, they asked about one of their strikers in return

A deal for Irwin never materialised, but Sir Alex Ferguson showed interest in Cantona, who had recently fallen out with Leeds manager Howard Wilkinson.

A £1.2million deal was agreed, and the fee was an absolute steal as Cantona became the King of Old Trafford.

8. Nick Barmby

In 2000, Nick Barmby turned down a huge contract offer from Everton and became the first ever player to to switch from blue to red in Merseyside as the midfielder joined rivals Liverpool in a deal worth £6million.

The move angered Everton fans, and they were even more unhappy upon when Liverpool faced them five months later.

Barmby scored the opening goal of the game, and proceeded to celebrate in front of the Anfield crowd, and Liverpool went on to beat Everton 3-1.

The former Evertonian has been hated by his former fans ever since.

9. Gonzalo Higuain

Gonzalo Higuain was signed from Real Madrid by Napoli in 2013, as Edinson Cavani had just left the club to join Paris Saint Germain.

The Argentine striker instantly settled in Naples, and became adored by the Napoli fans, before joining Juventus three years later.

The fans began to riot and images surfaced of the forward's billboards being ripped down, old shirts were floating in the sewers, and his legacy had been tarnished.

Higuain scored when facing his former side for the first time in a 2-1 win, and a brace from the Argentine knocked Napoli out of the Italian Cup shortly after.

10. Luis Figo

Luis Figo left Barcelona for Real Madrid in the summer of 2000 for a then world record fee of £54million.

This did not go down well in Catalonia, and when Figo returned to the Camp Nou with Los Blancos, Barcelona fans revealed signs and banners slamming the Portuguese international, and multiple items were thrown at the forward.

Bottles, coins, mobile phones and most infamously a pig's head was thrown at Figo by Barcelona fans.

Although Figo was usually Madrid's corner taker, when returning to the Camp Nou, he was tripped of corner duties due to the player's safety.

11. Roberto Baggio

Legendary Italian striker Roberto Baggio was a star for Fiorentina, but after five years in Florence, he joined rivals Juventus in 1990.

Following the transfer, there were riots in the streets of Florence and 50 people were injured as the news broke.

Bricks, chains and bottles were launched in the steets, and Fiorentina's president Flavio Pontello took refuge by locking himself in the club's stadium.

He later sold the club out of fear for his own safety.

12. Eran Zahavi

Eran Zahavi established himself at boyhood Israeli side Hapoel Tel-Aviv before heading to Europe.

The forward was loved by his side, and was wished well as he departed, but ended returning back to Israel just 18 months later.Zahavi returned to rivals Maccabi Tel-Aviv, which was an extreme betrayal according to the Israeli fans.

During the Tel Aviv derby in November 2014, the striker was assaulted by a Hapoel fan who ran onto the field after Zahavi scored for his new side, and he was subsequently sent off for retaliating.

This started a brawl between the players and the fans, and scenes got that bad that it resulted in the match being abandoned.

13. Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff is one of the most famous names in the history of the game, and the Dutchman is considered to be one of the greatest of all time.

The star made his name with Ajax, where he won seven Eredivisie titles and three European Cups during his first stint at the club before joining FC Barcelona.

Cruyff rejoined the club to wrap up his career, but after two more seaons in Amsterdam, Ajax decided not to offer him a new contract, so the Dutchman signed for rivals Feyenoord.

In what ended up being his last ever season, Cruyff won the Player of the Year award and helped Feyenoord win their first league title in a decade.

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