Soccer: Messi and Ronaldo tweet spurs rumour mill

(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 25 - A tweet by a a former club manager in Doha showing new PSG signing Lionel Messi with his rival for contemporary soccer's all-time great crown Cristiano Ronaldo has reignited speculation that the ex-real Madrid Portugal great might be set to join his former long-time Barca foe in Paris from present club Juventus.
    Khalifah Bin Hamad Al Thani, who was initially mistakenly reported to be a member of the PSG owning Qatari family, captioned the mock-up "Could it be?".
    With the summer transfer window set to close in a week, PSG remains one of Ronaldo's few options should the 36-year-old striker opt not to stay in Turin after two years in which he failed to spur the Bianconeri on to a long-sought third European champions title on the back of a nine-year scudetto winning streak.
    Agnelli family member and Juve superfan Lapo Elkann was angered by the tweet ad the attendant speculation.
    "CR7 is a Juventus FC player. It is not very respectful to continue to put other shirts on him as if he was a sticker figure", said the grandson of late iconic Juve owner Gianni Agnelli.
    Ronaldo last week quashed rumours of a move from Juventus to another European giant like PSG or even a return to his former club Real.
    In a long post on Instagram, the 36-year-old Portugal great accompanied a picture of himself shushing people with the following message: "Anyone who knows me is aware of how focused I am on my work. Less talk and more action, this has been my guiding motto since the start of my career. However, in view of everything that's been said and written recently, I have to set out my position.
    "More than the disrespect for me as a man and as a player, the frivolous way that my future is covered in the media is disrespectful to all the clubs involved in these rumours, as well as to their players and staff.
    "My story at Real Madrid has been written. It's been recorded.
    In words and numbers, in trophies and titles, in records and in headlines. It's in the Museum at the Bernabeu Stadium and it's also in the minds of every fan of the club. And beyond what I achieved, I remember that in those nine years I had a relationship of deep affection and respect for "merengue aficio' n", an affection and respect that I retain to this day, and that I will always cherish. I know that the true Real Madrid fans will continue to have me in their hearts, and I will have them in mine.
    "As well as this most recent episode in Spain, there have been frequent news and stories associating me with a number of clubs in many different Leagues, with nobody ever being concerned about trying to find out the actual truth.
    "I'm breaking my silence now to say that I can't allow people to keep playing around with my name. I remain focused on my career and in my work, committed and prepared for all the challenges that I have to face. Everything else? Everything else is just talk.😉" Ronaldo, who has a year to go on his Juve contract, had been linked to several top European clubs, most recently PSG, after failing to help secure top European silverware for the Bianconeri for the second year running, the hunt for Champions League glory being the main reason he was lured to Turin from Madrid.
    Ronaldo recently returned from holiday having failed to lead reigning champions Portugal past their Euro 2020 last 16 clash with Belgium.
    On Wednesday the Portugal star left Juve training with a knock to his arm having featured impressively off the bench in Juve's opening Serie A 2-2 draw with Udinese Sunday. (ANSA).