Brazilian legend Ronaldo could be on the verge of a move to
Manchester City, with the Daily Telegraph claiming that the former Milan man has
held talks with the Premiership club over a possible transfer.
The 31-year-old free agent is currently recovering from injury after he severed
a tendon in his knee playing for Milan against Livorno in February.
After a successful operation in Paris, it was revealed that he would be out of
action for at least nine months. Ronaldo's rehabilitation is said to be going
well, and well ahead of schedule, but after his contract at Milan expired at the
end of June, the Italian club refused to offer him a new deal.
Man. City is looking for a big international name, for commercial reasons, and
there are few bigger in the game than Ronaldo, who is a three-time FIFA World
Player of the Year and the top scorer in the history of the World Cup.
The Telegraph claims that Ronaldo has held informal talks over a possible move
before the end of this week, but first the Brazilian must prove his fitness, as
there are concerns over his weight.
City's executive chairman Garry Cook appeared to admit an imminent move for
Ronaldo when he told the Telegraph:
"I've got to change the culture here. Today you can grow quicker than it took
Manchester United. We just need a superstar. China and India are gagging for
football content to watch and we're going to tell them that City is their great
content. We are a global franchise entity. We told [manager] Mark Hughes not to
come here if he thought we didn't need a superstar."
Man. City failed earlier this summer in their bid for one superstar --
Ronaldinho. Now it could succeed in a move for his compatriot and former
namesake Ronaldo. |