Ronaldo agrees to join Juventus

Sports Desk: Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed to join Juventus after the Italian champions decided to pay the €100 million (£88m/$116m) release clause in his Real Madrid contract, according to O Jogo.

Juventus have analysed the financial aspects of signing the Portugal superstar and, in addition to the fee, are prepared to hand Ronaldo a four-year contract worth €120m (£101m/$140m).

Ronaldo’s relationship with Madrid president Florentino Perez has broken down amid a failure to agree a new contract and the 33-year-old has decided to join Juventus.

The Portugal forward was reported to be on the verge of leaving last June after a news story appeared in Portuguese newspaper Record declaring he was unhappy with the club.

He also caused a stir in 2012 when he declared in a post-match interview after a game with Granada: “I’m sad and the club know why.”

Juventus declined to comment when contacted by Reuters, while Real Madrid said: “Our official comments are made through our official media channels.”

Real have not issued any statement on their website about Ronaldo, although in the past days they have issued statements denying reports they have made transfer bids for Paris St Germain forwards Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

Spanish newspaper Marca suggested on Wednesday that Ronaldo is unhappy at Real because they are searching for his successor and president Florentino Perez has publicly courted Neymar, urging the Brazilian last year to come to Madrid if he wants to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.

Source: Agencies


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