It seems like a long time ago, but Cristiano Ronaldo was generally anticipated to join Manchester City in late August.
His agent, Jorge Mendes, has spoken with Premier League champions’ representatives, and City appeared to be in pole position to recruit him from Juventus after failing to get Harry Kane.
Fernandinho, a City midfielder, has revealed that there was a “substantial likelihood” that Ronaldo would transfer to the Etihad.
However, according to sources, the striker began to question if he would be guaranteed a starting spot in Pep Guardiola’s star-studded squad every week.
City allegedly grew less interested in acquiring him after learning that they would retain Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, and Bernardo Silva following rumors that the three might leave the club during the summer.
United was shocked to learn that one of their most iconic players was considering a move to their dreaded rivals, and Alex Ferguson, along with former teammate Rio Ferdinand and compatriot Bruno Fernandes, all intervened to ensure that if Ronaldo was indeed heading to Manchester, it would be the red half and not the blue half.
Instead, Ronaldo joined Manchester United, breaking a record for social media engagements, and had a spectacular start, scoring twice against Newcastle to put his team to the top of the Premier League.
However, as United prepares to go to the east of Manchester to face the leaders in today’s derby, Ronaldo is in poor form, having scored just one goal in his past ten games.
He will not participate in the derby due to an injury, and he was not included in the traveling team.
However, the fact that City is favorites to win the Premier League and the Champions League, while United are struggling to finish in the top four, suggests that Ronaldo is severely regretting his choice to move to Old Trafford rather than the Etihad.
And former Liverpool attacker John Barnes believes he would have performed significantly better at City owing to Pep Guardiola’s superior talent.
“His goal record is outstanding for a 37-year-old, but I think if he’d come to City, he’d probably have 25 goals today because the good players would have found him a lot easier,” Barnes told the Mirror.
“They would have had the vision and technique to send him in, but I believe some of United’s players just lack the vision to put him in on goal.
“Then there’s the claim that his legs have given up and he’s lost the speed he had four or five years ago.
“I think what’s gotten him irritated is that he hasn’t gotten the same treatment he’s been used to in the past, and no one has seen him.”
