Carlo Ancelotti has ruled out the possibility of Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo making a return to Real Madrid in the ongoing transfer window.
Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved legendary status at Real Madrid, but will not be making a return to the club this summer, manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed via a tweet (h/t BBC Sport).
Ronaldo signed for Real Madrid in the summer of 2009 from Manchester United and went on to enjoy a glittering career at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Portuguese talisman made 438 appearances for Los Blancos in which he scored a club record 450 goals while winning two La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League crowns.
Ronaldo left Real Madrid to join Juventus in the summer of 2018. Even at 36, the Portuguese continues to be one of the best players and has been scoring for fun in Italy. However, having entered the final year of his contract with the Bianconeri, Ronaldo has been linked with a move away this summer.
Indeed, there have been rumours of a shock switch to Manchester City, talks about a move to Paris Saint-Germain as well, where a team-up with arch-rival Lionel Messi is being touted. Real Madrid, too, have been linked with a move for the 36-year-old maverick, despite their delicate financial situation.
Cristiano es una leyenda del Real Madrid y tiene todo mi cariño y respeto. Nunca me he planteado ficharle. Miramos hacia adelante. #HalaMadrid
— Carlo Ancelotti (@MrAncelotti) August 17, 2021
However, taking to Twitter, new manager Carlo Ancelotti, who returned for his second spell at the helm of the Spanish capital club, has ruled out any such move, insisting that while Ronaldo is a legend at Real Madrid, the team is now looking forward.
“Cristiano is a Real Madrid legend and he has all my love and respect. I have never considered signing him. We look forward. #HalaMadrid,” he wrote.
Ronaldo did play under Ancelotti during the Italian’s first stint as the manager of Real Madrid, winning the La Decima by lifting the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League triumph. However, there will be no reunion for the pair this summer, as made clear by the manager.
It has been a slow transfer window for Real Madrid, who have been hit hard by financial troubles. At the moment, only David Alaba has been brought in by Los Blancos, while they have lost key players like Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane while Martin Odegaard, once tipped as the future of the club, could also be on his way out.
