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CITY IN TALKS OVER CRISTIANO AS JUVE PREPARE TO SELL

MANCHESTER City have moved closer to a sensational deal to sign Cristiano Ronaldo after Juventus said they were willing to sell him this summer.

Although they are yet to make a formal bid for the 36-year-old, it is understood Premier League champions City have held discussions with the five-time Ballon D’Or winner after conceding defeat in their attempts to prise Harry Kane from Tottenham.

While such a move may seem unthinkable at Manchester United – where he spent seven seasons – there are even reports City boss Pep Guardiola spoke directly to Ronaldo yesterday about a possible move. It would hand him an early opportunity to take on his rival as the world’s greatest player, Lionel Messi, with City and the Argentina superstar’s new club Paris Saint-Germain having been drawn in the same Champions League group.

With speculation over Ronaldo’s future having intensified in recent days, and the transfer window closing next Tuesday, his agent Jorges Mendes was yesterday summoned for a meeting with senior Juventus figures at which

CHELSEA DRAWN WITH JUVENTUS IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE » the club indicated they would demand a fee for a player (right) they signed for £99.2million from Real Madrid three years ago.

The Portugal forward still has a year left on his contract but the Italians are keen to get his gross salary of more than £1m a week off their wage bill having failed to lift the Serie A title for the first time in a decade last season.

City would be prepared to offer him a two-year contract and would expect to pay him around £13m a season but while they want to sign him on a free transfer, Juve are holding out for a £25m fee.