“I do not read newspapers. I know how much nonsense is written there, anyway,” said Ole Gunnar Solskjaer earlier today, when he was quizzed on the possibility of Cristiano Ronaldo joining bitter rivals Manchester City. While the Manchester United boss did not directly offer his thoughts on the prospect of his former team-mate joining the club’s noisy neighbours, he has already offered an indication of his feelings on the matter earlier in the year.
Earlier this year when City confirmed Sergio Aguero would be leaving at the end of the season, Solskjaer quashed speculation that United would be interested immediately.
His line of thinking was no matter what happens along the way, no United player should ever consider joining City.
Of course, there have been several exceptions including his team mates Peter Schmeichel and Andy Cole plus Carlos Tevez.
But Solskjaer laid down the law that he is huge on loyalty and what it means to wear the famous red United shirt.
JUST IN: Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has view on completing Yves Bissouma transfer
Solskjaer made it crystal clear he did not agree with former United players joining City later in their careers and the same could now apply to Portuguese superstar Ronaldo.
Reports now claim CR7 has agreed personal terms with City ahead of a potentially sensational return to the Premier League and Manchester.
Jorge Mendes is already working on the deal and City have already rejected his advances once.
The Premier League champions are refusing to pay a fee to sign the Juventus forward with the Italian giants demanding up to £25m.
City do not want to spend that on a 36-year-old, who will also demand astronomical wages.
Instead, they have agreed to pursue a deal if they are able to sign Ronaldo on a free transfer with Harry Kane now set to stay at Tottenham.
Last summer, Solskjaer admitted he would love to bring Ronaldo back to Old Trafford, although there was no intention of making the deal happen.
“Don’t forget I played with Cristiano and he’s the best player in the world — so I wouldn’t mind having him in my team too,” he said in June 2020.
Now Solskjaer is potentially facing the unthinkable prospect of Ronaldo lining up in sky blue at Old Trafford later this season…