Manchester United have been monitoring the situation of Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the upcoming transfer window. As reported by The Athletic on May 21, United are exploring the possibility of making a sensational move for their former star player. Ronaldo was left out of Juventus‘ final game of the season on Sunday, heightening speculation that a move could be on the cards.
Manchester United Monitoring Cristiano Ronaldo Situation
Manchester United Monitoring Cristiano Ronaldo
Ever since he left the club back in 2009, Man Utd fans have dreamt of Ronaldo returning to light up the Old Trafford pitch again. Now, as the rumour mill swirls again, the possibility of it happening seems greater than ever.
It has been a disappointing season for Juventus. Their run of nine consecutive Serie A titles has come to an end, and they only just qualified for the Champions League. They sneaked into the top four on the final day, thanks to Hellas Verona holding Napoli to a draw. The Bianconeri beat Bologna 4-1, although Ronaldo played no part in the game.
The official reason for Ronaldo missing out was because he had played too much recently, although who knows if this is the real reason. Despite sitting out, Ronaldo claimed the Serie A Golden Boot, with 29 goals in 31 matches. At 36-years-old, Ronaldo clearly showing that he has not lost his eye for goal, and can still compete at the highest level.
Will Juventus Sell Ronaldo?
Juventus CEO Fabio Paritici has dismissed speculation linking Ronaldo with a Juventus exit. Speaking to Sky Italy in March, he said: “It’s a privilege to have him here, and we’ll hold on tight to him. We’re very happy to have him here.” He went on to say that Ronaldo represents the future of Juventus, despite being well into his thirties.
However, selling Ronaldo could prove beneficial to their worrying financial situation. Juventus have not been coy about their struggles, revealing a loss of €113.7 million over the first half of the campaign. Ronaldo’s wages could prove key to digging them out of this hole. He reportedly earns €31 million a year. That is more than the entire Atalanta squad!
So selling Ronaldo would make sense to Juventus from a financial point of view. His contract expires in June 2022, at which point he of course can leave for free. He may be 36, but Juventus would likely demand a hefty fee, which could help further in their financial crisis.
United Fans Dreaming Of a Reunion
United fans have always hoped that Ronaldo would return for one last dance, and the speculation seems to only get stronger as time goes on. Ronaldo joined as an 18-year-old in 2003, and quickly propelled himself to one of the best footballers of all time.
During his six-year spell, Ronaldo formed a formidable and frightening front three alongside Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez. The trio guided them to the Champions League title in 2008, and a year later they secured a hat trick of Premier League titles. Ronaldo also won the Golden Boot in 2008, scoring 31 goals; a remarkable achievement considering he was a winger at the time.
Ronaldo ended his time at United with 84 league goals. As Manchester United closely monitor Cristiano Ronaldo, fans are wondering if he will return to join the Premier League 100 club. The Red Devils seem to be edging closer and closer to Premier League glory again. Could Ronaldo be the catalyst to achieve this?
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