Manchester City are no longer in talks to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, with a Man Utd return now possible; Pep Guardiola also said City "did everything" to try and sign Harry Kane, but "big master of negotiation" Daniel Levy made a deal difficult
Friday 27 August 2021 14:51, UK
Pep Guardiola said Cristiano Ronaldo will decide where he wants to play just moments before Manchester City pulled out of a deal to sign the forward and a return to Manchester United emerged as a possibility.
Ronaldo has said his goodbyes to his Juventus team-mates, with head coach Max Allegri confirming the 36-year-old Portugal captain wants to leave the club.
Guardiola said "anything can happen" before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, but stressed players of Ronaldo's calibre decide their own moves.
"Ronaldo will decide where he wants to play. Not Manchester City, not myself. Right now it looks far, far, away," Guardiola said on Friday, around an hour before Sky Sports News reported City have ended talks and United are now in discussions with their former player.
Asked if he wants to sign Ronaldo, Guardiola added: "I'm incredibly happy with the squad, more than satisfied. We are the same except one guy left, Sergio [Aguero], and one guy arrived, Jack [Grealish].
"These types of players decide. [Lionel] Messi decided to go to Paris, they knock on the door, they call."
Meanwhile, earlier this week Harry Kane confirmed he would be staying at Tottenham this summer after interest from City, and Guardiola said the "big master of negotiation" Daniel Levy - Spurs' chairman - meant a deal was not possible.
"The club did absolutely everything," Guardiola said. "We didn't talk about Tottenham, not even one offer, because they didn't want to negotiate. It's understandable.
"The moment they open the door, maybe we'll say. But we're not going to pay £200m, we tried to negotiate, but the big master of negotiation Mr Daniel Levy, we could not do it.
"He's a Tottenham player and I wish him all the best to do well in London."
Guardiola has also clarified comments suggesting he will leave City when his current contract expires in 2023.
The City manager was quoted this week after speaking at a Brazilian business forum held over Zoom that he would leave the club after seven years at the helm.
The Spaniard has now pointed out, however, that he merely said he will take a break from the game when he leaves City and did not give a date.
Guardiola said: "I am not thinking to leave after two years. I can leave in two months if the results aren't good or the organisation isn't happy with me. I can leave in three months or five years.
"What I said is after my period at City, I will take a break. It can be in one month, two years, five years. Right now, I don't have reasons to leave."
Time is running out for clubs to do business - the summer transfer window closes at 11pm in England and midnight in Scotland on Tuesday August 31 and you can follow all the Deadline Day drama with Sky Sports.
Follow all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on the Sky Sports website and app, check out the latest Done Deals and watch the best analysis and reaction on Sky Sports News.
