Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘contact with Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’ as Man City eye deal

Ronaldo: All you need to know about Man Utd-linked star

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Cristiano Ronaldo could end up at Manchester City this summer. L’Equipe have claimed the Juventus star is open to moving to the Etihad Stadium as Pep Guardiola struggles to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham. But Manchester United can’t be entirely ruled out, especially with the forward still in touch with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

United have already spent the bulk of their summer transfer budget.

A deal for Jadon Sancho set them back a massive £73million, while their signing of Raphael Varane from Real Madrid was for a fee close to £40m.

But when United want something, they make the money available. And that means that, while Manchester City are frontrunners in the race to sign Ronaldo, they’re still an option too.

At present, the 36-year-old’s time with Juventus appears to be winding down.

He’s impressed since his move from Real Madrid back in 2018, firing the Old Lady to two Serie A titles in three years.

But with Juventus faltering last term, and needing to balance the books in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, Ronaldo could be on the move.

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City are frontrunners in the race to recruit the veteran, despite Ronaldo previously insisting he’d never wear their colours.

Yet it was reported by The Athletic in May that Ronaldo was actually still in contact with United boss Solskjaer, who he previously played with at Old Trafford.

It was stated at the time that the Norwegian was actually open to having the 36-year-old back at the club, providing the economics make sense.

And though United are well-stocked in attack, it seems an emotional homecoming for Ronaldo isn’t entirely out of the question.

City, it has to be stressed, seem likelier to land the Portugal international.

But, in 2013, Ronaldo insisted it would be ‘very difficult’ to play for City due to his love of United.

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He said: “To play for City not United? I’m not going to do that,” he said.

“Why? Because my heart’s in Manchester United, that’s why.

“I can say it would be very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very difficult to play at Manchester City.

“Very difficult because of Manchester United.”

Ronaldo would risk angering United fans with a move to City.

And he’d also put himself in danger of becoming another Carlos Tevez, who famously crossed the divide back in the summer of 2009.

Speaking last year, meanwhile, Andy Townsend urged City to swoop for Ronaldo as a replacement for Sergio Aguero.

Aguero has left City for Barcelona.

And Townsend said: “If you want goals then I think he’s still the ultimate goal machine.

“I know Messi and there has been so much mileage on the debate over the years but I still think Ronaldo still has the desire and want to be remembered as the greatest. He will in some people’s eyes but he won’t in others.

“He’s still got a desire to score goals. More than anything on the field now, he just wants to score goals.

“He’s at that period where his eyes light up every time there’s a free-kick at whatever angle. Whenever he gets the chance to shoot he will. Even when others are better placed, forget that.

“He’s unbelievable in the air, which we’ve seen in a Juventus shirt already.

“If he became available and Juve wanted out on him and Man City needed goals for their team then I don’t think you should hesitate in going to get Cristiano Ronaldo.

“He’s 35 and I still think he’s got 18 months in him. If he came to Man City and the way they play I think he could go there and get 25 in his first season.”

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