Juventus Forward Cristiano Ronaldo 'Seriously' Eying up Manchester United Return

Cristiano Ronaldo, 36, has been playing for Italy’s Turin-based Serie A club Juventus since 2018. He's scored 99 goals and registered 22 assists in 129 appearances for the team, while winning four trophies. The Portuguese forward’s contract expires in 2022.

Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly considering a return to Manchester United, according to The Athletic.

The striker, who plays for Italy’s Juventus and captains the Portugal national team, left Old Trafford to join Real Madrid at the end of the 2008/09 season. However, reports claim Ronaldo is open to a return to Manchester. 

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, left, celebrates after scoring against AS Roma with teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, during their Champion's League quarterfinal, first-leg soccer match at the Rome Olympic stadium, Rome, Italy, Tuesday April 1, 2008. Manchester United won 2-0 with the first goal scored by Ronaldo and the second one by Rooney.

© AP Photo / JON SUPER

Juventus' failure to seal a top-four Serie A finish and qualify for next season’s Champions League could trigger Ronaldo’s exit. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Man U's Norwegian manager, has apparently reached out to the Portuguese in a bid to sign him. 

Crucial Challenge for Juventus

If Juventus do miss out on Champions League football next season, the club might be ready to part ways with Ronaldo by cashing-in on him. He has another season with the Turin team before his four-year contract expires.

Juve, according to a report in AS, would likely seek a fee of around 25 million euros for the forward.

After claiming their 14th Coppa Italia on 19 May, the Old Lady's CL fate hangs in the balance as the team sits sixth in the league. 

 

JUVENTUS WIN THEIR 14TH COPPA ITALIA! 🇮🇹

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/yJb8T7ocVq

— Goal (@goal) May 19, 2021

The club was sorely disappointed to cede its nine-year run as Italian champions, as Inter Milan won the title this year, while Juventus was also knocked out of the CL by Porto earlier in the season.  

To seal a berth in next year's competition, Juve not only need to beat Bologna, but require Napoli or AC Milan to lose.

Cristiano Ronaldo has now won 34 career titles 🏆

One shy of Lionel Messi 👀 pic.twitter.com/k6v9UqLUw4

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 19, 2021

Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Parma - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - April 21, 2021 Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo reacts

© REUTERS / MASSIMO PINCA

 

Career ‘Full Circle’

Dubbed one of the greatest players of all time, Ronaldo signed with Manchester United in 2003 at the age of 18.

He went on to win the FA Cup in his first season, and helped Manchester United win three successive Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League, and the FIFA Club World Cup.

After his stint with Spain’s Real Madrid, the winner of five Ballon d’Or awards and four European Golden Boots, Juventus signed Ronaldo for €100 million (£88 million) in 2018. He won two Serie A titles and a Coppa Italia in his first three seasons with the club. 

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, stands with his son Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, after winning the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2014 during the soccer awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich January 12, 2015

© REUTERS / Arnd Wiegmann

Ronaldo is also allegedly ready to take a pay cut to facilitate a return to Manchester, and has indicated that he would like to retire at his boyhood club Sporting CP in Lisbon.