The latest on Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus future and Man Utd interest
By Ross Jackson
Manchester United are said to be keen to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford this summer with the Portuguese superstar desperately looking to find a way out of Juventus,
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is idolised at United following a six-year spell at the club that essentially catapulted him to stardom.
The Portugal international flourished under Sir Alex Ferguson following his arrival from Sporting CP in 2003, notching well over 100 goals and spearheading their charge towards multiple Premier League crowns and the 2008 Champions League.
Ever since Ronaldo departed for Real Madrid in 2009, speculation linking him with a move back to Old Trafford has been rife, and it's understood that United fans' dreams may be about to become a reality.
Italian news outlet Gazzetta dello Sport report that the club are lining up a summer move for the 36-year-old who is rumoured to be desperate to leave Juventus as he doesn't believe the club's ambitions match his own.
With the Old Lady in financial turmoil and Ronaldo's crippling salary failing to bring them the Champions League success they so desperately crave, the club are understood to be willing to sell for as little as £26m - a figure that will be music to the ears of the United hierarchy.
However, a figure that won't be so warmly received by those at the club is his salary - the superstar's yearly wage is more than than the £26m United would need to pay in terms of a transfer fee.
Ronaldo is understood to earn £27m-a-year at Juventus (after tax), a figure that would need to be halved if a move to United was to become a genuine possibility.
Despite Ronaldo having spoken with his representative and 'super-agent' Jorge Mendes last week about a potential move away from Juve, he's said to not even be entertaining the idea of slashing his current salary, meaning the dream of seeing him return to Old Trafford could yet be a long way off for United fans.