“He was really close to Man City” - Fabrizio Romano opens up on concrete Cristiano Ronaldo transfer negotiations and Manchester United hijack
Fabrizio Romano has opened up on Cristiano Ronaldo's 2021 return to Manchester United. The famed journalist confirmed that Ronaldo had concrete negotiations with Manchester City that summer only to return to his former club.
Ronaldo decided to leave Juventus in 2021 and there were reports that the former United superstar could join the SkyBlues of Manchester. United, however, completed a last-minute hijack, bringing the Portugal captain back to Old Trafford.
Romano has detailed about the excitement of the transfer, saying on the Rising Ballers YouTube channel:
"I think when Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United was incredible. He was really close to Manchester City, it was a concrete negotiation. To see Cristiano rejoining United in 24 hours, the excitement was insane."
Watch Romano talk about the Ronaldo transfer:
Ronaldo scored 24 goals in 38 appearances across competitions in his comeback season at United, ending the campaign as the Red Devils' top scorer. However, he became a bit part player under Erik ten Hag in the 2022-23 season.
The new role didn't sit well with the Portuguese talisman, who reiterated through an explosive interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan. Ronaldo criticized the club's growth, the Glazers, and also explained why he didn't respect Ten Hag.
The Piers Morgan interview was the moment of the ticking bomb exploding, which resulted in the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's exit via mutual termination of his contract.
Ronaldo left the club in November 2022, on the eve of Portugal's opening game against Ghana in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr as a free agent on December 31, 2022.
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Cristiano Ronaldo claim
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS group are currently minority stakeholders of Manchester United. The British billionaire was recently asked about the best United player of all time.
He named Cristiano Ronaldo. Ratcliffe also named legends like Bobby Charlton and George Best before revealing that Sir Alex Ferguson once told him that Ronaldo was the best. Ratcliffe said on the Geraint Thomas Cycling Club (via Football365):
"Probably Ronaldo, I guess."
He added:
"But I once asked Sir Alex Ferguson who the best player he ever coached was, and he said Ronaldo."
Cristiano Ronaldo's second Manchester United spell came to a bitter end and the fairytale didn't go as anticipated. That said, it's impossible to downplay the joyous moments he gave the fans while wearing the red over his two spells.