Manchester United's manager suggested the club is ready to hijack its rival's move for Cristiano Ronaldo and bring him back to Old Trafford

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Manchester United's manager suggested the club is ready to hijack its rival's move for Cristiano Ronaldo and bring him back to Old Trafford
Cristiano Ronaldo. Getty/Laurence Griffiths
  • Manchester United could be ready to hijack Manchester City's deal for Cristiano Ronaldo.
  • That's according to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who says club is "always here" for the Portuguese star.
  • Ronaldo spent six seasons at Old Trafford between 2003 and 2009, scoring 118 goals.
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Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suggested the club is ready to hijack Manchester City's move for Cristiano Ronaldo and bring the Portuguese superstar back to Old Trafford.

Juventus announced on Friday that Ronaldo will no longer play for the Serie A club and will leave before the end of the summer transfer window.

City was the favorite to land the 36-year-old, with the two parties having agreed to personal terms on a two-year deal, though a roadblock remains over a transfer fee.

Juventus wants at least $29 million for the striker. However, City do not want to pay, having already splashed out $139 million on Jack Grealish.

Amid the stall in negotiations, Solskjaer has suggested the door is open for Ronaldo to return to United.

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Ronaldo spent six seasons at Old Trafford between 2003 and 2009, scoring 118 goals and winning three Premier League titles before moving to Real Madrid.

"Cristiano Ronaldo? We've always had a good communication," said the Norwegian boss on Friday, according to Fabrizio Romano.

"Bruno [Fernandes] has been talking to him as well, and he knows what we feel about him. If he was ever going to move away from Juventus, he knows we are here."

Transfer expert Romano revealed later that United had been in direct talks with Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, since Thursday.

"Manchester United have been in direct contact with Jorge Mendes since yesterday night for Cristiano Ronaldo comeback," tweeted Romano.

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"Now board talking about figures of the deal, potential salary & also fee for Juventus. Man United are now 'seriously interested' - as Man City too."

United legend Rio Ferdinand appeared to react to the news of United's proposed move for Ronaldo with a meme of actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

Ronaldo has previously hinted at a sensational return to United.

"Of course I miss playing for Manchester United," he told the News of the World, per The Mirror, in 2010, shortly after he moved to Madrid.

"I played there for six years, and that's a long time. I am still interested in watching Manchester United and, you never know, maybe in the future I could return to play there."

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Speaking with MUTV in 2014, he said: "It was one of my favourite clubs, Manchester [United]. Everyone knows that every time when I speak about Real Madrid, I should speak about Manchester United. I loved it there.

"I was 18 years old [when I joined], I won everything there, the people treat me like a god, so I appreciate it, and in the future, nobody knows."

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