Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says Cristiano Ronaldo will decide where he is going to play and insists he is ‘delighted’ with the squad he has.
Ronaldo has left Turin, but Juventus still haven’t received an offer for the Portuguese star.
However, Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed that Ronaldo doesn’t want to play for Juventus anymore and the player has left Turin on Friday evening, flying to Lisbon with his private jet.
Manchester City are reportedly leading the race to sign the 36-year-old, but Manchester United have joined the race with Jorge Mendes in talks with the Red Devils.
Guardiola briefly discussed Ronaldo’s future during a pre-match press conference today.
“I cannot say much. Harry Kane announced he continues at his club, exceptional club like Tottenham. Cristiano was at Juventus, I think a Juventus player. Only I can say that in this three or four days left in the transfer window everything can happen,” Guardiola said.
“In my personal view there are few players, Ronaldo and Messi included, that they decide where they are going to play. They are the absolutely leading role in the negotiations and the desire of where they want to play. In that position, right now I’m more than delighted with the squad we have and we’ll stay the same.”
Juventus need at least €25m to sell Ronaldo to avoid a capital loss. He has reportedly reached an agreement over a two-year deal at the Etihad Stadium, but Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suggested the Red Devils may be interested in welcoming the player back at Old Trafford.
Man United open Ronaldo talks as Solskjaer refuses to rule out move
So, still no offer from another club, he already left Turin and doesn’t want to play for Juve anymore? That means he breaks up his contract solely. Which means he’ll need to pay a comission to Juve.
I always said, from the day he put foot in Turin, that he was not a blessing but a fierce curse. Juve played the worst football in 10 years since he arrived, Allegri knew Ronaldo was the reason and left. Sarri and Pirlo were too soft because the board told them Ronaldo always needed to play, no matter what. Then in the end Pirlo had the guts to substitute him in the match against Inter. Eversince we’ve seen the real Ronaldo, his mask fell off. Remember when he threw his jersey to the ground?
Allegri came back and we all knew since then that Ronaldo wouldn’t play a match with interest for Juve anymore. However, the “superstar” took it to 5 days before closing of the mercato to say he’s leaving. Hasn’t got any respect for nobody except himself and personal records.
I’ve never understood why Agnelli brought him to Turin, beside economical reasons. It was against everything Juve stands for. Never again.