Man Utd kept waiting as Ronaldo delivers cryptic message on future plans

Cristiano Ronaldo, could leave Juventus for Man Utd, TEAMtalk

Manchester United seem no nearer to discovering if Cristiano Ronaldo will re-join the club this summer after he confessed that speculation over his future is like water off a duck’s back.

Ronaldo may be 36 years old but he is still one of the deadliest marksmen in European football. Having shone at Old Trafford and Real Madrid, he has continued to find the net at Juventus. The Portugal captain bagged 29 Serie A goals from 33 outings in 2020-2021 and has 81 in total for the Old Lady.

He has one year left on his Turin deal but rumours persist that he may be on his way this summer. United’s link to the player is obvious, as he spent six seasons with the Red Devils before moving to the Bernabeu in 2009.

And it is thought he is still in touch with current United chief Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. There have been multiple reports that the north-west giants are plotting a summer swoop.

It was suggested by Tuttosport at the end of May that Paul Pogba could be used in a deal for Ronaldo. The Frenchman’s second stint at the Theatre of Dreams has not been as he would have hoped.

And it may be that a return to Juve is all he needs to revitalise his club career. Other clubs might well enter the picture for the Portuguese star.

But he seems unperturbed about what might happen domestically and is focused on his national team.

“I have been playing at the highest level for many years, this doesn’t faze me,” he told reporters, as per the Manchester Evening News. “Maybe if I was 18 or 19 I might have had some sleepless nights, but I’m 36. Whatever comes will be for the best regardless of staying at Juve or being transferred.

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“The crucial thing now is the Euros, it is my fifth Euros, but for me it’s like my first Euros. We want to play a good match with good thoughts from the first to the last match.”

Juventus target hints at Ronaldo exit

It remains to be seen whether the former Sporting ace does return to United before the start of next season. He would certainly be given a hero’s welcome but would demand a huge salary.

Juventus will want to keep him on board but have recently been linked with Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus. A move for the Brazilian would seem to suggest that they could well be open to Ronaldo leaving in the off-season.

Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial, Man Utd, January 2021

The Italian giants now have Massimiliano Allegri at the helm and he will doubtless have his own ideas. As ever, finances will play a huge part but the superstar’s status means that he can practically write his own script.

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