Man Utd dealt Cristiano Ronaldo transfer blow as Juventus eye new deal

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Manchester United could be forced to wait even longer for the chance to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford, according to reports. The mercurial Juventus forward has been linked with a return to the Red Devils for a number of years, with United fans eager to see one of the game’s greatest players back at his old stomping ground once again.

Speculation has intensified in recent months after it was suggested that Ronaldo could feature as part of a swap deal, with midfielder Paul Pogba going the other way.

It has also been rumoured that United’s main sponsor Chevrolet would be willing to bankroll an approach for the 35-year-old.

However, it appears that Ronaldo could be set to remain in Turin for the foreseeable future.

Juventus are preparing to offer their star man a new contract that will keep him at the defending Serie A champions until the summer of 2023, according to Calciomercato.

The report claims that rumours surrounding a move to United or any other club are ‘nothing true’, with an offer to extend his stay at Juventus ‘ready’ to be tabled.

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Although United could try and sign Ronaldo for free in 2023, the winger would be 38 years of age and unlikely to replicate his earlier performances for the club.

This could lead to the Portugal captain opting to see out his career in the MLS when the time comes, the report suggests.

Juventus are expecting negotiations to go smoothly with Ronaldo regarding his new deal, after securing long-term financial investment with the renewals of their Adidas and Jeep sponsorships.

Ronaldo’s international team-mate Bruno Fernandes revealed in August that the 35-year-old regularly asks him how things are going at United.

The midfielder, who is helping the Red Devils to challenge for their first Premier League title in eight years, also suggested that his more experienced compatriot retains a soft spot for the club that allowed him to develop into one of the world’s best players.

“Of course, I spoke with Cristiano after [joining] and he spoke very well about the club,” Fernandes told the club website. “I spoke with him some days ago, again.

“Every time I speak with him, he asks me how Manchester is and if everything is okay. Everyone knows he spent a lot of time in Manchester and he has consideration for the club.

“He likes the club, I think he won his first Ballon d’Or here, so it’s a club who’ve marked him, for sure.”

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