How Man City could line up with Ronaldo after Juventus star ‘agrees’ switch
Don’t wait around for updates – sign up for our daily football email newsletter today!
Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo looks set to sign for Manchester City before the end of the transfer window, ending their search for a natural No.9.
The Portugal captain, one of the greatest footballers of all time, wants to leave Turin this summer and is set to ignore his Manchester United past and move to bitter rivals City.
Ronaldo spent six years at Old Trafford between 2003 and 2009, winning the Premier League three times, the Champions League once, the Football League Cup three times and the FA Cup.
However, despite how loyal United fans have been to the 36-year-old since his £80m switch to Real Madrid, the striker looks set to brush his loyalties under the carpet and put pen to paper at the Etihad Stadium.
According to Diario AS, the Cityzens haven’t put an official offer in for Ronaldo yet but they have agreed on a deal with the player.
So, if Ronaldo does join indeed Man City, how does he fit into their plans?
Pep Guardiola’s side are certainly not short of depth out wide or in midfield, but since striker Sergio Aguero departed earlier this summer, there has been an uneasiness about where the goals might come from.
Will Manchester City win the Champions League if they sign Ronaldo? Comment below
Gabriel Jesus and Liam Delap are currently the only two strikers on City’s books at the moment, though Raheem Sterling, Ferran Torres, Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden have all played as a makeshift centre forward in a false-nine previously.
If Ronaldo joins, that would no longer have to be the case. In the last three seasons, the forward has scored 81 goals in 94 Serie A appearances for Juve, helping them to two league titles. He would solve their potential goal scoring issues and put them on course to finally win the Champions League.
It is unlikely that Guardiola’s side would be so interested in signing Ronaldo if their pursuit of Tottenham striker Harry Kane was successful over the past few months.
The English forward has been the priority for City this summer, though Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has stood strong and turned away offers that do not match his £160m valuation of the 28-year-old striker.
On Wednesday it was announced that Kane will not be leaving Spurs this summer. The England captain posted on his social media channels that he is set to stay in north London and will be honouring his contract.
He wrote: “It was incredible to see the reception from the Spurs fans on Sunday and to read some of the messages of support I've had in the last few weeks.
"I will be staying at Tottenham this summer and will be 100% focused on helping the team achieve success. #COYS."
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Pep Guardiola
- Manchester City FC
- Transfer news
Source: Read Full Article