Manchester United have submitted an official transfer bid to Juventus for Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Juventus have just received an OFFICIAL bid from Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo. They’re ready to find an agreement to complete the deal.
“Paul Pogba is not included in any negotiation. Manchester City only had verbal talks and are now OUT of Ronaldo race,” he tweeted.
Manchester United are now the main frontrunners to secure a sensational return to Old Trafford for Cristiano Ronaldo, after it was confirmed Manchester City is no longer interested.
Earlier in the day, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri confirmed the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s desire to Juventus.
Premier League champions City had been widely linked with a move for the Portuguese forward after missing out on England captain Harry Kane.
However, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hinted the Red Devils could make a late swoop to bring Ronaldo back to Old Trafford.
Ronaldo won the first of his five Champions League titles and was first crowned the world’s best player during six years at United between 2003 and 2009.
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Cristiano Ronaldo keen on leaving Juventus.
City loses out
City seemed to be in pole position to land what would have been the biggest signing in the club’s history as they look for a replacement for Sergio Aguero.
However, according to reports in England, they have now withdrawn their interest.
City manager Pep Guardiola insisted he will be happy with his squad even if they do not add another striker before the end of Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
“Cristiano will decide where he wants to play, not Manchester City or myself. Right now, it looks far, far away,” said Guardiola.
“These types of players decide. They knock the door; they call and after there are situations I cannot control. It is not my business.”
United will still have to reach an agreement with Juventus.
Ronaldo’s contract in Turin running until 2022 and the italians are reportedly holding out for a transfer fee in the region of 25 million euros ($29 million, £21 million).
“Yesterday, speaking with Cristiano, he told me that he has no intention of staying at Juventus, for this reason he will not be picked tomorrow. This morning he didn’t train,” Allegri told reporters ahead of Juve’s Serie A match against Empoli on Saturday.
“He was here three years, he made his contribution, he made himself available to Juventus and now he’s leaving. Life goes on,” added Allegri.
Ronaldo won two Serie A titles with Juventus, but his time in Turin has not lived up to expectations.
He joined 2018 after scoring a remarkable 450 goals in 438 matches in a glittering nine-year spell at the Bernabeu that also included four Champions League triumphs.
Juventus hopes he would be the final piece required to end their 25-year wait to become champions of Europe have been thwarted.
La Vecchia Signora have failed to get beyond the quarter-finals in the past three seasons.
Last season, they were deposed as Italian champions by fierce rivals Inter Milan and had to wait until the final day of the campaign to secure qualification for Europe’s top club competition.
And he also rolled back the years at Euro 2020 to win the Golden Boot despite playing just four games as Portugal bowed out at the last 16.
Ronaldo set to join an already loaded group of attack options for Solskjaer featuring Fernandes, Sancho, Edinson Cavani, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and Paul Pogba.
