Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus celebrates scoring his side’s second goal during the International Champions Cup match between Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur at the Singapore National Stadium on July 21, 2019 in Singapore.
Thananuwat Srirasant | Getty Images
Manchester United have reached an agreement with Juventus to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo.
Juventus will reportedly receive €15m (£12.8m) plus €8m (£6.8m) in add-ons for Ronaldo, who is set to sign a two-year contract with United after personal terms are finalised.
Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes said earlier in the day that a deal for the 36-year-old to return to Old Trafford was very close.
Confirming the news, an official United statement read: “Manchester United is delighted to confirm that the club has reached agreement with Juventus for the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo, subject to agreement of personal terms, visa and medical.
“Everyone at the club looks forward to welcoming Cristiano back to Manchester.”
Ronaldo’s departure from Juventus was confirmed on Friday by boss Max Allegri, who revealed he was told by the player he had “no intention” of playing for the club again.
United’s rivals Manchester City were offered the chance to sign the Portugal captain and considered making a move, but the Premier League champions pulled out of negotiations.
Ronaldo spent an hour and a half at Juventus’ training ground on Friday morning to say goodbye to his team-mates before boarding a private jet from Turin to Lisbon. He was in the final year of his £500,000-per-week contract.
Ole: Ronaldo knows we are here
Ronaldo, who scored 118 goals in 292 appearances for United between 2003 and 2009, won multiple trophies including three Premier League titles and the Champions League under former boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
Speaking on Friday, current United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted Ronaldo “knows we’re here”.
“I didn’t think Cristiano was going to leave Juventus. It has been speculation this morning and the last few days of course,” Solskjaer told reporters on Friday.
“We have always had good communication. I know Bruno [Fernandes] has been talking to him as well. He knows what we feel about him and if he was ever going to move away from Juventus he knows we are here.”
Solskjaer, who played alongside Ronaldo during the latter stages of his career at United, described his former team-mate as a “legend” of the club and the “greatest player of all time”.
“I was fortunate enough to play with him, I coached him when I got my job (as reserve team manager at United),” the Norwegian added.
“Such a tremendous human being so let’s see what happens with Cristiano. Everyone who has played with him I think has a soft spot for him.”
Pep: Ronaldo will decide where he plays
Pep Guardiola said Ronaldo will decide where he wants to play just moments before Manchester City pulled out of a deal to sign the forward.
Guardiola said “anything can happen” before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, but stressed players of Ronaldo’s calibre decide their own moves.
“Ronaldo will decide where he wants to play. Not Manchester City, not myself. Right now it looks far, far, away,” Guardiola said on Friday, around an hour before Sky Sports News reported City had ended talks.
Asked if he wants to sign Ronaldo, Guardiola added: “I’m incredibly happy with the squad, more than satisfied. We are the same except one guy left, Sergio [Aguero], and one guy arrived, Jack [Grealish].
“These types of players decide. [Lionel] Messi decided to go to Paris, they knock on the door, they call.”
