Cristiano Ronaldo forces one of the biggest moves in football history

Megastar Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly forced through one of the biggest moves in club football history to return to England.

Juventus' Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo. AFP.

Cristiano Ronaldo has forced through one of the biggest moves in football history with reports swirling his move to Manchester City is a done deal.

The 36-year-old has been linked with the Premier League club throughout August, but the situation has escalated dramatically with local Portuguese media reporting City and Juventus have signed off on a deal that will see Ronaldo make an immediate move.

Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol has also reported he has been told by sources close to the situation that the deal has been completed.

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Despite Juventus insisting Ronaldo was staying with the Serie A giants, media reports earlier this week suggested that the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star had decided to leave.

He had reportedly cleaned out his locker in an attempt to force Juventus into accepting the deal offered by Manchester City.

A meeting between Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes and Juventus officials on Friday morning reportedly concluded with both parties agreeing to let Ronaldo leave. The circumstances of the departure have not been confirmed by Juventus or City.

The two clubs have reportedly been haggling over a $47 million transfer fee demand while Ronaldo is in the final year of his contract with Jeventus. Manchester City reportedly believes it can snare Ronaldo without needing to pay a fee.

Cristiano Ronaldo is putting a dagger into Manchester United. Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP)

Sky Sports has reported City’s deal with Ronaldo is for two years.

The contract would reportedly see Ronaldo earn $25 million per year, according to Sky Italia.

If a deal is to be reached, the clock is ticking with the transfer window set to close on Wednesday (AEST).

Premier League champions City have been widely linked with a move for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner after missing out on England captain Harry Kane.

Ronaldo joined Juve in 2018 to huge fanfare.

His return to the Premier League is even bigger.

Last weekend, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri insisted that he had received assurances from the Portugal star over his future.

“Let’s clarify this issue, Ronaldo told me that he’s staying,” Allegri said in response to numerous questions on Ronaldo’s form and mindset ahead of Sunday’s Serie A opener at Udinese.

“He has always trained well and has always been available. I’ve read rumours in the papers, but he’s never wanted to leave Juventus.”

Italy’s top scorer last season with 29 goals started the Udinese game on the bench.

Last week, Ronaldo himself rubbished reports of a move back to Real Madrid, calling them “disrespectful” and saying that stories of his departure were written with “nobody ever being concerned about trying to find out the actual truth”.

Real have since had an initial bid of 160 million euros for PSG star Kylian Mbappe rejected, but according to French media reports are set to make a second offer of 180 million.

That would close any route for Ronaldo back to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 appearances for Manchester United early in his career before leaving for Madrid in 2009.

He joined Juve in 2018 after scoring a remarkable 450 goals in 438 appearances in a glittering nine-year spell at the Bernabeu that also included four Champions League triumphs.

At Juventus, his hopes of winning another Champions League have been thwarted, with the club failing to get beyond the quarter-finals during his time.

Last season, they were deposed as Italian champions by Inter Milan.

— with AFP

Originally published as Cristiano Ronaldo forces one of the biggest moves in football history