Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus Turin celebrates his team’s second goal during the International Champions Cup game 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 Turin to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.
Juventus will reportedly receive € 15m (£ 12.8m) plus € 8m (£ 6.8m) in bonuses for Ronaldo, who will sign a two-year deal with United upon personal terms.
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.
An official United statement confirming the news said: “Manchester United are pleased to confirm that the club has reached an agreement with Juventus to transfer Cristiano Ronaldo, subject to personal, visa and medical conditions being agreed .
“Everyone at the club is looking forward to seeing Cristiano back in Manchester.”
Ronaldo’s departure from Juventus was confirmed on Friday by boss Max Allegri, who revealed he had been told by the player that he had “no intention” to return to the club.
United’s rivals Manchester City were given the chance to sign the Portuguese captain and considered a move, but the Premier League champions pulled out of negotiations.
Ronaldo spent an hour and a half at the Juventus training ground on Friday morning saying goodbye to his teammates before boarding a private jet from Turin to Lisbon. He was over £ 500,000 a week in the last year of his contract.
Ole: Ronaldo knows we’re here
Ronaldo, who scored 118 goals in 292 games for United between 2003 and 2009, won several trophies including three Premier League titles and the Champions League under former boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
In a speech on Friday, current United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted that Ronaldo “knows we are here”.
“I did not think that Cristiano would leave Juventus. This morning and of course in the last few days there has been speculation,” Solskjaer told reporters on Friday.
“We always had good communication. I know Bruno [Fernandes] also spoke to him. He knows how we feel about him and if he ever moved away from Juventus he knows we are here. “
Solskjaer, who played alongside Ronaldo in the latter stages of his career at United, described his former teammate as the club’s “legend” and the “greatest player of all time”.
“I was lucky enough to play with him. I coached him when I got my job (as a reserve team manager at United),” added the Norwegian.
“Such a great person, so let’s see what happens to Cristiano. Everyone who has played with him has a soft spot for him in my opinion.”
Pep: Ronaldo will decide where to play
Pep Guardiola said Ronaldo will decide where to play just before Manchester City pulls out of the contract to sign the striker.
Guardiola said “anything can happen” before Tuesday’s transfer window closes, but stressed-out Ronaldo-caliber players decide their own steps.
“Ronaldo will decide where he wants to play. Not Manchester City, not me. At the moment it looks far, far, away,” Guardiola said on Friday, about an hour before Sky Sports News reported that City had ended talks.
When asked if he would like to sign Ronaldo, Guardiola added: “I’m incredibly happy with the squad, more than happy. We’re the same except for one man who is left, Sergio [Aguero], and a guy came along, Jack [Grealish].
“These types of players decide. [Lionel] Messi decided to go to Paris, they knock on the door, they call. “
