- Title: 'Amazing' - Man United fans react to Ronaldo's return
- Date: 27th August 2021
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED FAN, KEVIN, SAYING: "Amazing mate. Honestly, I think if you go back 24 hours, a lot of United fans would have thought he's on his way to Man City, so, it was kind of, you know, that kind of, like thought of 'God, he can't go there'. But the news that's just broke today, unbelievable. Just blows everything out the water. The fact he's coming back to Manchester United regardless of his age, fantastic. I can't imagine any Man United fan being disappointed by this news. Ronaldo's coming home." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED FAN, GEOGE, SAYING: REPORTER: "Is it made sweeter by the fact he was signing for Man City this morning?" GEORGE: "Well, I'm not going to lie. Man City this morning, I was a bit angry, I was reading everything online and then boom, I was in the car straight away, coming over. Soon as I heard that he was coming to United. Amazing." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED FAN, GEOGE, SAYING: "Personally, I think, especially Varane, Jadon Sancho coming in and Ronaldo, Man United and Ronaldo will push on to win the Premier League this season or next. I'm very, I reckon we could." (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER FANS, EESAA, AAISHAH AND OMAR, SAYING: EESAA: "Very happy." REPORTER: "Is he your favourite player?" EESAA: "Yeah." REPORTER: "Is he your favourite player too?" AISHA: "Yes." OMAR: "Turnaround. What's the number on the back of your shirts? Fantastic signing. Don't know how I feel about the talks of him signing for Man City. Makes me feel, I don't know. Not so sure. Of course, he's a legend. I don't believe that legends of the club need to be talked out of signing for Man City by players past and present, managers past and present. I hope it's all, I hope there was nothing in it. Some of my mates are saying maybe he will play in City, maybe Mendes (Ronaldo's agent) was playing City. I don't know. But just sits a bit uncomfortable with me knowing that talks were going on and he had said that he would be happy to join Man City. But then again, I've heard that as soon as he heard that United were interested, he didn't need a second thought and he came back, so." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER FAN, OMAR, SAYING: "Just bang the goals in. Right foot, left foot, head, free kicks, penalties, that's all we need." (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNNAMED MANCHESTER UNITED FAN, SAYING: "I think it would be amazing to be honest, I was just reading about it actually a minute ago. I think to have him return, such a legend, and obviously started his career I remember watching him come on as a teenager and yeah it would be amazing to have him back in the Premier League and obviously end his career at the club it all started for him, I think it would be phenomenal." (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNNAMED MANCHESTER UNITED FAN, ON WHAT RONALDO WOULD BRING TO MAN UNITED, SAYING: "Everything, leadership, mentality, that mentality to win everything. Rashford doesn't have that yet, Greenwood doesn't have that yet, Sancho doesn't even have that yet, Bruno tries but Bruno's never won anything big. So, he'll bring that leadership that mentality to win trophies that United, we need it." (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNNAMED MANCHESTER UNITED (RIGHT) AND MANCHESTER CITY FANS, SAYING: UNITED FAN: "A lot mate he makes it, he's a Red, he belongs to a Red doesn't he. He belongs with a United kit on. That's why City have pulled out. Because that's not where he belongs, he belongs to the Reds and that's just it." REPORTER: "Do you think City missed a beat by pulling out?" CITY FAN: "Nah I don't think so, we'll still win the league like usual so I'm fully confident." REPORTER: "You disappointed?" CITY FAN: "No not at all really, he can stay at United, they need him really don't they." UNITED FAN: "Secretly though he is pretty heartbroken I can tell." CITY FAN: "Yeah I am, I was crying this morning."
- Embargoed: 10th September 2021 19:35
- Keywords: Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United fans new contract reaction
- Location: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK
- City: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Europe,Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA002ES23327
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Manchester United capped a day of high-transfer drama by agreeing a deal for Cristiano Ronaldo to return to the club, after rivals Manchester City had a reported change of heart.
The transfer is subject to the agreement of personal terms, visa and a medical, but the 36-year-old appears set to leave Juventus to re-join the club where he won eight major trophies between 2003-2009.
Fan favourite Ronaldo's return generated so much excitement that United's website crashed shortly after they announced the deal, while the club's share price rose nearly 7% to $18.47.
Initial media reports had said Ronaldo, who told Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri he wanted to leave the Turin club on Thursday, was likely to move to United's rivals City, but Sky Sports said the Premier League champions had decided against doing a deal.
Financial details were not disclosed, but the BBC claimed the fee was 15 million euros for Ronaldo up front, with eight million euros added on. Sky Italia said he will sign a two-year contract worth 480,000 pounds ($660,048.00) a week.
The day of drama started when Allegri, speaking ahead of Juve's Serie A clash with Empoli this weekend, said Ronaldo had informed him on Thursday of his decision to leave the club.
"Yesterday Cristiano told me that he no longer plans to play for Juventus," he told a news conference.
"This is why he will not be called up tomorrow. He did not train yesterday. He told his team mates this morning. I am not surprised at anything, in football there is the market and there are the needs of individuals.
"He made his choice. Life goes on."
Ronaldo, who won two Serie A titles and a Copa Italia trophy during his three years in Turin, posted a farewell message to Juve fans on Instragram later on Friday.
"Today I leave a wonderful club, the largest in Italy and certainly one of the largest in Europe," he said. "I gave my heart and soul for Juventus and I will always love the city of Turin until my last days.
"I can look back and realise that we have achieved great goals, not all we wanted, but still, we have written a beautiful page of history together."
Allegri's comments sparked a media frenzy, with reports in both the Italian and British media claiming Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, had already agreed personal terms with City - a move that would have proved controversial given their rivalry with United.
City coach Pep Guardiola said the power was in Ronaldo's hands.
"I cannot say much," said the Spanish coach when asked about Ronaldo at a news conference to preview Saturday's home match against Arsenal. "Only I can say that in this three or four days left until the transfer window shuts, everything can happen.
"In my personal view there are few players that, and I think Cristiano Ronaldo is included and (Paris St Germain's new signing Lionel) Messi of course, decide where they are going to play."
But United had not given up hope of securing a return to Old Trafford for a player who spearheaded one of the most successful periods in the famous club's history.
"We've always had good communication," United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said of his relationship with Ronaldo.
"I know (United's Portugal midfielder) Bruno (Fernandes) has been talking to him as well and he knows what we feel about him. And if he was ever going to move away from Juventus he knows we're here," he told a news conference on Friday.
Hours after Solskjaer's comments, United announced the deal, something their website could not cope with.
"It is fantastic news," former United defender Gary Neville told Sky Sports. "It's a little bit nostalgic and nostalgia doesn't always work in football, it sometimes kicks you when you don't expect it.
"The idea of him going to Manchester City was torture for Manchester United fans. I said last week, if there is a big player available then United have to be in the market for that player.
"He'll play regularly, he'll play as a No 9, I'm sure they'll put legs in and around him. He will score goals and Cristiano Ronaldo will be coming to win trophies, win personal accolades and set the Premier League on fire."
Ronaldo spent six seasons at Old Trafford from 2003-2009 where he won eight major trophies plus the Ballon d'Or as the world's best player in 2008 before sealing a then world record 80 million pounds move to Real Madrid.
At United, he scored 118 goals and won the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2007-08 season, the year he helped the Old Trafford club claim their last Champions League title.
The transfer means Ronaldo and Messi, winners of 11 of the last 12 Ballon d'Or awards between them, have both made surprising switches this summer.
($1 = 0.8479 euros)
($1 = 0.7272 pounds)
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