Ronaldo completes Juve move
CRISTIANO RONALDO has completed his sensational £88million move from Real Madrid to Juventus. Nine years after the Spanish giants signed him from Manchester United for £80m, the chance to make a profit after enjoying the best of the 33-year-old’s career proved too good to turn down. Real issued a statement pinning his departure firmly on the player, saying: ‘In response to the will and desire of Cristiano, we have agreed to transfer him to Juventus.’ Ronaldo was visited by Juventus president Andrea Agnelli in the Greek islands yesterday, where he is on holiday, and said goodbye in a letter published on Real’s website. He said: ‘These years at Real Madrid have been possibly the happiest of my life. I only have feelings of enormous gratitude for this club and for the fans. But the time has come to open a new stage in my life and that is why I have asked the club to agree to transfer me.’ Gareth Bale, who did not always enjoy the smoothest relationship with the Portuguese, tweeted: ‘An incredible player and a top guy! It has been a pleasure to play alongside you for the last 5 years. Good luck for the future my friend.’ The sale leaves Real needing to replace their star man — and a move for Chelsea’s Eden Hazard this summer could keep fans satisfied. Neymar, for his flair on the pitch and commercial impact off it, is considered by Perez as the perfect man. But PSG are reluctant sellers and Real may have to wait a year until his release clause kicks in. Ronaldo threatened to leave last summer when he felt Real reneged on increasing his net earnings from £22.2m to the £31m he understands Lionel Messi and Neymar are paid. Florentino Perez told Ronaldo he could leave if he found a club willing to pay around ¤100m — equivalent to the £88m deal agreed with Juventus.