Ronaldo off to Juventus

CRISTIANO Ronaldo has completed his sensational $180 million move from Real Madrid to Juventus.

Nine years after the Spanish giants signed him from Manchester United for $142 million, 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, pictured left, was visited by Juventus president Andrea Agnelli in the Greek islands yesterday, where he is on holiday, and said goodbye in a letter 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.”

He thanked his teammates and they responded, with Sergio Ramos tweeting: “Your goals, your stats, and everything we have won together, they do the talking for you. You deserve your place in the history of Real Madrid. It’s been a pleasure to play alongside you.”

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.”