Manchester City were in pole position to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus before the summer transfer window shut, but they ended up pulling out of the deal when Manchester United got involved.
The Red Devils would go on to complete a deal to bring Ronaldo back to Old Trafford and Juventus’ Director of Football Federico Cherubini revealed how they were successful over City.
He told Tuttosport (h/t Manchester Evening News): “There weren’t the right conditions to (sell Ronaldo to City). Manchester United behaved differently, as a club with tradition. Sometimes in the past, we had to pay to part ways with some players. In this case (with City), we wouldn’t be able to get anything at all.”
United paid €15m (£12.9m) and a potential €8m (£6.9m) to sign Ronaldo, but City weren’t willing to offer anything up front for the 36-year-old. Despite the Sky Blues needing a striker to replace Sergio Aguero, it didn’t appear they were wholly committed to putting up a lot of money as Ronaldo’s £480k-per-week/£25m-a-year salary could have broken their wage structure.
City didn’t manage to bring in another striker before the window shut, so Pep Guardiola has opted to use Ferran Torres in the makeshift role. The decision is paying dividends too, as the 21-year-old has had a hand in three goals from as many Premier League games this season.
Ronaldo would have been an incredible coup, but City clearly didn’t believe he was worth the financial outlay.
In other news, Man City won’t complete sensational deal for Barcelona’s new No.10 despite links