Ronaldo asks to leave Juve; Man City deal imminent?

It appears Cristiano Ronaldo could be moving to the Premier League in short order. LaPresse

Report: Cristiano Ronaldo asks to leave Juventus; Manchester City deal imminent?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Aug 26, 2021 5:48 PM ET

Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona to sign with Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent may have been the summer's most shocking transfer for roughly two weeks.

Football insider and CBS Sports personality Fabrizio Romano reported Thursday afternoon Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has officially asked to leave the Italian Serie A giants and be sold before the summer transfer window closes this coming Tuesday.

Romano adds that Ronaldo won't be available for Juve's league contest versus Empoli on Saturday and that the 36-year-old who is out of contract following the season could join Manchester City "as soon as possible" if his agent agrees to terms with the reigning Premier League champions:

Juventus are waiting for Manchester City official bid to arrive in the next hours to reach an agreement as soon as possible. Cristiano Ronaldo wants to leave and he won’t be available for next match. #Ronaldo

Mendes is now discussing Ronaldo’s contract with Manchester City.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2021

It's a shock move few saw coming a week ago, as City were hoping to sign Tottenham Hotspur striker and England captain Harry Kane this summer. Kane, under contract for another three years, committed himself to Tottenham through at least the end of 2021 on Wednesday reportedly after City failed to match his employer's valuation in any bid.

Juventus allegedly want €28 million ($33 million) in a transfer fee for Ronaldo's services.

Ronaldo spent his first six Premier League years (2003-09) with Manchester United before he left for Real Madrid, and it was long thought he'd never jump to the blue portion of Manchester and break the hearts of the Old Trafford faithful. Previous reports said CR7 had spoken with City boss Pep Guardiola over the phone on Thursday morning, so it seems he's not concerned with upsetting English supporters who used to sing his praises.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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