Latest reports have emerged that Manchester United have contacted Cristiano Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes with the Red Devils appearing to have successfully hijacked the Juventus star’s anticipated transfer to their rivals City.
Juventus have on Thursday pointed out that the five-time Ballon d’Or Award winner will be leaving the Turin club after the 36-year-old expressed his desire for a fresh challenge elsewhere..
Recent report has revealed that Ronaldo has informed Juventus of his intention to leave the club and his representatives have held advanced discussions with Manchester City.
Meanwhile, the former Real Madrid talisman’s willingness to move back to Manchester has raised the possibility of a United homecoming 12 years on from when Ronaldo left the club.
According to the Italian renowned sports journalist Fabrizio Romano, United have initiated talks with Mendes on Thursday and are now ‘seriously interested’ in signing a player who spent six trophy-laden years in England with the Red Devils between 2003 and 2009.
And with City, according to the BBC, now pulling out of the race, United are confident of beating their local rivals to the services of the multiple Ballon d’Or winner.
Solskjaer had admitted that he did not think Ronaldo would leave Juve this summer while confidently saying that the United great ‘knows we’re here’.
“I didn’t think Cristiano was gonna turn out leaving Juventus,” Solskjaer said. “And it’s been speculation this morning and the last few days.
“We’ve always had good communication. I know Bruno [Fernandes]’s been talking to him as well and he knows what we feel about him. And if he was ever gonna move away from Juventus he knows we’re here.
“We focus on the ones we have there, I don’t want to speculate too much on Cristiano, what’s happening there with the press.
“I’ve said many times with speculation, when you’re Man United, when you’re Ronaldo, when you’re Messi, when you’re Pogba, when you’re Bruno, you have to read a lot about yourselves. So let’s see what happens with Cristiano, he’s such a legend of this club.
“Cristiano has been a legend of this club, he is a legend of this club, he’s the greatest player of all time, if you ask me. I was fortunate enough to play with him, I coached him (in 2008) when I got my job. He almost retired me in that Wolverhampton game (in 2003) when I got injured because he kept switching sides!
“Such a tremendous human being, as well. Let’s see what happens with Cristiano. Everyone who’s played with him has a soft spot for him.
“I could’ve been in that box and scored- a few, the ones he scored just tap-ins and stuff,” Solskjaer laughed at the suggestion Ronaldo would be a handy goalscorer. “As I said earlier, he’s probably the greatest player of all time, arguably, him and Messi, but then it is what it is.”