CRISTIANO RONALDO has penned an emotional goodbye message to Juventus fans ahead of his return to Manchester United.
On Friday, it was announced that United have agreed a deal to re-sign the five-time Ballon d’Or winner from the Italian champions.
Ronaldo’s impending return to Old Trafford brings about the end of a three-year stay in Turin, which he reflected on in a heartfelt Instagram post.
Alongside a highlight video of his time at the Allianz Stadium, he wrote: “Today I depart from an amazing club, the biggest in Italy and surely one of the biggest in all of Europe.
“I gave my heart and soul for Juventus and I’ll always love the city of Turin until my final days.
“The ‘tiffosi bianconeri’ always respected me and I tried to thank that respect by fighting for them in every game, every season, every competition.
“In the end, we can all look back and realize that we achieved great things, not all that we wanted, but still, we wrote a pretty beautiful story together.
“I will always be one of you. You are now part of my history, as I feel that I’m part of yours. Italy, Juve, Turin, tiffosi bianconeri, you’ll always be in my heart.”
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SunSport understands United will pay Juve £21million for the services of Ronaldo, who has been handed a two-year contract at the Theatre of Dreams
The Portugal international left United in the summer of 2009 to join Spanish giants Real Madrid.
After nine trophy-laden seasons with Real, he departed the Spanish capital for Turin in July 2018.
Ronaldo, 36, revealed to Juventus earlier this week that he wished to move on to pastures new.
That prompted defending Premier League champions Manchester City to weigh up a move for his services.
City, however, pulled out of the race for the forward’s signature after it emerged United had made overtures to re-sign their former talisman.
Italy, Juve, Turin, tiffosi bianconeri, you’ll always be in my heart.
An excerpt of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Instagram message to Juventus fans
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United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed the club’s interest in bringing back his old team-mate on Friday afternoon, saying: “It’s been speculation this morning and the last few days.
“We’ve always had good communication.
“I know Bruno [Fernandes]’s been talking to him as well and he knows what we feel about him.
“And if he was ever gonna move away from Juventus he knows we’re here.
“We focus on the ones we have there, I don’t want to speculate too much on Cristiano, what’s happening there with the press.
“I’ve said many times with speculation, when you’re Man United, when you’re Ronaldo, when you’re [Lionel] Messi, when you’re [Paul] Pogba, when you’re Bruno [Fernandes], you have to read a lot about yourselves.
“So let’s see what happens with Cristiano, he’s such a legend of this club.
“Cristiano has been a legend of this club, he is a legend of this club, he’s the greatest player of all time, if you ask me.
“I was fortunate enough to play with him, I coached him (in 2008) when I got my job.
“He almost retired me in that Wolverhampton game (in 2003) when I got injured because he kept switching sides!
“Such a tremendous human being, as well. Let’s see what happens with Cristiano.
“Everyone who’s played with him has a soft spot for him.”
Manchester United will be back in action on Sunday afternoon, travelling to Molineux to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
