Manchester City have refuted Cristiano Ronaldo's claim that he was "close" to moving to the Etihad Stadium last year.
Ronaldo was linked with a move to the Premier League champions in the summer of 2021 before sealing his emotional return to Manchester United. After three goal and trophy-laden years at Juventus, the superstar striker sought a new challenge and arrived back at Old Trafford for an initial £13million after 12 years away from the Red Devils.
For much of August 2021, City led the transfer race for Ronaldo's services but Sir Alex Ferguson's intervention ensured he did not tarnish his United legacy by joining their cross-town rivals. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner opened up on last year's transfer saga during part one of his tell-all interview with Piers Morgan.
"Well, honestly, it was close," Ronaldo replied when Morgan quizzed him on his mooted transfer to City. Recalling his conversation with Ferguson at the time, he added: "He said to me that, 'It's impossible for you to come to Manchester City'. And I say, 'OK, Boss'."
Despite Ronaldo's assertion that a transfer to City was on the cards, Mirror Football understands this was not the case. While there was contact between Etihad chiefs and super-agent Jorge Mendes, the Portugal captain was never "close" to putting pen to paper on a contract with the Citizens.
Instead, Ronaldo returned to the Red Devils and enjoyed a successful season, scoring 24 goals in all competitions - 18 in the Premier League and six in the Champions League. However, his relationship with the club declined after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November 2021.
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Ronaldo did not see eye to eye with Ralf Rangnick, Solskjaer's interim replacement, and opened up on his arguments with the German in his explosive interview with Piers Morgan. "In the end, the deep inside me, I never saw him as the boss because I saw some points that I never agreed," he said of Rangnick.
Things have only deteriorated further since Erik ten Hag left Ajax to take over as United manager on a permanent basis this year. Ronaldo admitted he has no "respect" for the Dutchman, who is weighing up how to sanction the player for his outburst on television.
Ten Hag held talks with the Old Trafford hierarchy on Monday and United have instructed lawyers to look into the situation with a view to potentially sacking him for his disciplinary breach. Ronaldo's interview came after he scored just three goals during the first half of the season, only one of which came in the Premier League, prior to the World Cup in Qatar.
