Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly wanted at Manchester United amid speculations that Juventus want to get rid of him to cut down on the amount they spend on wages.
The 35-year-old Portugal international reportedly earns £28 million per season amid the coronavirus pandemic that has affected the revenue of clubs across the world. Hence, Juventus believe that allowing their talisman to go during the January transfer window will greatly improve their saves.
Cristiano Ronaldo joined the Italian Serie A club from Real Madrid on July 10, 2018, for a transfer fee worth €117 million. Since he arrived at Juventus, he has helped the club to win two successive Serie A titles. He is currently on his third season at the club which has been bedeviled by coronavirus infection and a knee injury.
Notwithstanding, the 5 time Ballon d’Or winner has been as phenomenal as he has always been since he hit the limelight in 2003 when he joined Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon. In over two seasons at Juventus, Ronaldo has scored 71 goals and provided 19 assists in 94 games.
In the 2020-2021 season alone, the fact that he contracted coronavirus which kept him out of football for more than two weeks, and sustained a knee injury few days after he recovered from the infection did not stop him from scoring 6 league goals in 4 appearances.
Despite these stats, Juventus are reportedly not interested in keeping him at the club until June 2022 when his current contract with the Serie A champions will expire. Hence, Manchester United reportedly contacted Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendez over the return of Ronaldo to United according to a report by a Portuguese publication SportWitness.
The report claimed that the Premier League club is monitoring Ronaldo’s situation at Juventus and the club might step in if Juventus fail to keep him.
Head up and believe in the work we’re doing! 💪🏽 #finoallafine pic.twitter.com/jyfc8WpaFX
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) November 8, 2020
The return of Ronaldo to Manchester United might be almost impossible at this point because as Juventus are trying to cut down their wage bill, so is Manchester United. Recall that due to financial difficulties, United failed to sign their 2020 summer transfer main target Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.
Watford’s striker, Troy Deeney tells Cristiano Ronaldo where to go
Meanwhile, Watford’s striker, Troy Deeney told talkSPORT that Ronaldo should join Wolves instead of Manchester United because of the Portuguese connection at the club. Most of the players including the coach of the club, Nuno Espírito Santo, are from Portugal which means that the former Real Madrid star will easily adapt to the club system.
Troy Deeney said: “I would more look at a club like Wolves with the Portugal connection – that would work. Whoever is getting him is still getting an unbelievable talent.
“You’re not going to get the same Ronaldo you had at Man United. That’s always going to be the comparison.
“You look at Gareth Bale now, for example, he’s gone back to Tottenham and you’re already comparing him to the one that left.
“You’re still going to get goals from Ronaldo, but he’s got to get a season of 30+ plus goals [like he did at United previously] – that’s always going to be at the forefront of everybody’s mind… can he reach that level again?
“He’s getting older but he’s great in the air and he doesn’t look like he’s slowing down.
“Physically he’s a beast and from a marketing perspective he adds so much value to whatever club he goes to, so shirt sales would go through the roof.”
