Why did Manchester City reject chance to sign Cristiano Ronaldo in 2021? New Guardiola biography provides details

An excerpt from a new book on Pep Guardiola's time at Manchester City has given an insight into why Cristiano Ronaldo didn't move to the Etihad back in 2021. The Portuguese legend was heavily linked with a move away from Juventus that summer and ultimately returned to Manchester United in a €23 million (with add-ons) deal.

However, Ronaldo apparently offered himself to Guardiola's side before his transfer to Old Trafford, who rejected the transfer as he supposedly didn't fit their system. Daily Mail shared an excerpt from an upcoming book authored by Catalan sports journalist Marti Perarnau, which read:

"He [Cristiano Ronaldo] offered himself to City last summer but Pep wasn't interested. There's no question at all that Guardiola respects his immense ability to finish chances as well as his superb physical condition, but how could this type of player fit into the precision machine the Catalan has painstakingly and strategically built at City?

“Thanks but no thanks, Cristiano. Not even after City's attempt to sign Harry Kane and buy an outright centre forward ended in failure."

City also failed to sign Harry Kane that summer as the club looked for a potential Sergio Aguero successor. As it turned out, the Cityzens signed Erling Haaland the following year, who fired them to a historic treble in his debut season.

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Cristiano Ronaldo explained why he turned down Manchester City transfer

Cristiano Ronaldo seemingly has a different account of the incident. He said that he rejected Manchester City's advances on the advice of Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Scotsman, of course, nurtured Ronaldo during the latter's first spell at Manchester United and helped him become one of the world's finest. Speaking about the failed move to Manchester City in 2021, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner told Piers Morgan in an interview for TalkTV in November 2022 (via ESPN):

"Well, honestly, it was close... It's something they spoke [about] a lot and [Manchester City manager Pep] Guardiola said two weeks ago, I guess, that they tried hard to have me.

"But as you know, as my history [was] in Manchester United, your heart, your 'feeling... make the difference. And of course, as well, Sir Alex Ferguson. I was surprised... But it was a conscious decision. Because the heart speaks, speaking loud in that moment."

"I think it was the key [Sir Alex's intervention]. It was the difference in that moment, but I cannot be loyal if I will, I wouldn't say that Manchester City wasn't close. I spoke with him [Ferguson]... He said to me that, 'It's impossible for you to come to Manchester City'. And I say, 'OK, Boss'. So I took the decisions and... it was a good decision."

Ronaldo left Manchester United that month after a mutual termination of his contract and joined Al-Nassr in December that year on a free transfer.