Transfer News: Juventus preparing for life without Cristiano Ronaldo amidst Manchester United interest
According to La Repubblica (h/t Sports Mole), Manchester United have been handed an advantage in their efforts to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to the Theatre of Dreams.
The Portuguese legend is one of the greatest players to ever play the game. He evolved into a world-class superstar at United before going on to conquer Europe multiple times with Real Madrid.
While Ronaldo has impressed at Juventus, he has failed to lead the Italians to the holy grail. The veteran is currently in the final year of his contract and could be moved on this summer.
According to the report, Juve are looking to offload Ronaldo to balance their books. Both the parties have mutually agreed to facilitate his transfer away from the Italian giants this summer.
The 36-year-old earns a whopping £30.6m per year. While he remains one of the top players in the league, Juventus cannot afford to keep paying him the amount especially given his diminishing resale value.
While United remain interested in the superstar, his wage demands remain a stumbling clock in getting a deal over the line. Having already landed Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, the Red Devils have enjoyed an excellent summer so far.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also pushing for five of his key players to be given new improved contracts. This will be a strain on the club’s finances, especially if they once again go trophyless this season.
Adding Ronaldo into the mix would upset the applecart and could be more trouble than it’s worth. Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford to lead United to a 21st league title has a sense of romanticism. But the reality, however, presents a different picture.
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French giants Paris Saint Germain also remain interested in Ronaldo and are keen to pair him alongside Lionel Messi. Whether such a Football Manager-esque scenario will happen remains to be seen. There have also been reports that the Portuguese has been offered to Manchester City as well.
