Manchester United and Juventus have reached an agreement to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo.
According to reports, Juventus will receive €15 million (£12.8 million) plus €8 million (£6.8 million) in add-ons for Ronaldo, who is expected to sign a two-year contract with United once personal details are finalized.
Earlier in the day, Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, stated that a deal for the 36-year-old to return to Old Trafford was very close.
“Manchester United is delighted to confirm that the club has reached agreement with Juventus for the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, subject to agreement of personal terms, visa and medical,” read a statement from the club.
“Everyone at the club looks forward to welcoming Cristiano back to Manchester.”
Ronaldo’s exit from Juventus was announced by manager Max Allegri on Friday, who said that the player told him he had “no intention” of returning to the club.
Manchester City, United’s Premier League rivals, were offered the chance to sign the Portugal captain and considered making a move, but the Premier League champions decided against it.
On Friday morning, Ronaldo spent an hour and a half at Juventus’ training facility saying his goodbyes before boarding a private jet from Turin to Lisbon. His £500,000-per-week contract was coming to an end.
Ole: Ronaldo knows we are here
Ronaldo, who scored 118 goals in 292 games for United between 2003 and 2009, earned a slew of medals under Sir Alex Ferguson, including three Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United’s current manager, said on Friday that Ronaldo “knows we’re here.”
“I didn’t think Cristiano was going to leave Juventus. It has been speculation this morning and the last few days of course,” Solskjaer told reporters on Friday.
“We have always had good communication. I know Bruno [Fernandes] has been talking to him as well. He knows what we feel about him and if he was ever going to move away from Juventus he knows we are here.”
Solskjaer, who played alongside Ronaldo at United in the latter parts of his career, called him a “legend” of the club and the “best player of all time.”
“I was fortunate enough to play with him, I coached him when I got my job (as reserve team manager at United),” the Norwegian added.
“Such a tremendous human being so let’s see what happens with Cristiano. Everyone who has played with him I think has a soft spot for him.”
Pep: Ronaldo will decide where he plays
Just moments before Manchester City pulled out of an agreement to sign Ronaldo, Pep Guardiola claimed Ronaldo will decide where he wants to play.
Before the transfer window ends on Tuesday, Guardiola said “anything may happen,” but he highlighted that players of Ronaldo’s calibre make their own decisions.
“Ronaldo will decide where he wants to play. Not Manchester City, not myself. Right now it looks far, far, away,” Guardiola said this on Friday, around an hour before Sky Sports News reported that City and Guardiola had reached an agreement.
sked if he wants to sign Ronaldo, Guardiola added: “I’m incredibly happy with the squad, more than satisfied. We are the same except one guy left, Sergio [Aguero], and one guy arrived, Jack [Grealish].
“These types of players decide. [Lionel] Messi decided to go to Paris, they knock on the door, they call.”
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