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.
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