Cristiano Ronaldo has risked the wrath of Manchester United fans by opening the door to a blockbuster move to Manchester City, backing under-fire boss Pep Guardiola to turn their season around.
When asked at the Globe Soccer Awards if he would give City a ‘helping hand’ to turn around their season, the Portuguese superstar refused to rule out a sensational move to the Etihad.
“The football is like… you never know what is going to happen,” Ronaldo said.
When the presenter pressed him for a clear answer, telling him “that’s not a no!”, Ronaldo laughed and refused to elaborate.
Guardiola previously turned down the chance to sign Ronaldo in the summer of 2021 when Ronaldo announced he would be leaving Juventus.
Instead, he returned to Old Trafford for a second stint and scored 27 goals in 54 games before his acrimonious exit in December 2022.
The Premier League champions are one of a few European clubs – along with Chelsea, PSG and his former club United – that could feasibly afford Ronaldo’s wages.
However, there is nothing to suggest that they would entertain bringing in the Al-Nassr striker, who turns 40 in February.
The absence of Rodri in midfield has seen the champions unravel and with an ageing squad, Guardiola is in need for reinforcements and could make several moves in the market when the transfer window reopens on January 1.
The Catalan coach, 54, has overseen a run of just one win in 13 games in all competitions and City are lying in seventh place in the Premier League – some 14 points off leaders Liverpool.
Despite being snubbed in the past, it hasn’t stopped Ronaldo from giving his support to Guardiola, who is in the midst of his worst run since taking over as City coach in 2016.
“I think the big teams, the big players they are smart enough to understand what is the problem, where is the problem,” Ronaldo added.
“The teams have moments, good times, difficult times… and for example, City will pass through this moment. I’m sure 100 per cent they will be back.
“Guardiola is a very smart coach. He knows where the problem is coming from. They will be there like always.”
Ronaldo and Guardiola have a checkered past from their time in Spain, with the former starring for Real Madrid as Lionel Messi’s main rival and Guardiola coaching Barcelona until 2012. But their relationship has improved over time, with Guardiola once labelling Ronaldo as “irreplaceable”, before later expressing regret for not having more players of his calibre at the Etihad Stadium.
Ronaldo reciprocated not long after, hailing the Treble-winning manager as “a great coach” and admitted: “His teams are always at the top, and his football speaks for itself.”
