Cristiano Ronaldo

Thorgan Hazard scored the only goal of the game as Belgium knocked holders Portugal out of Euro 2020. Image: RealTime Images

Breaking: Ronaldo joining Juventus for a “new stage” in his life

Cristiano Ronaldo is joining Juventus after the Italian club agreed a €100m fee for the Portuguese forward with Real Madrid.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Thorgan Hazard scored the only goal of the game as Belgium knocked holders Portugal out of Euro 2020. Image: RealTime Images

More to follow…

Cristiano Ronaldo’s will move from Real Madrid to Juventus. The rumour has been doing the rounds all week, but was confirmed on Tuesday.

“Hello Ronaldo,” the Gazzetta dello Sport headlined a report saying that Allegri had called Ronaldo on Monday, suggesting the transfer deal was all-but done.

Real Madrid confirmed the news in a statement:

“Today Real Madrid wants to give thanks to a player who has demonstrated he is the best in the world and who marked one of the most brilliant periods in the history of our club and world football,” the club said in a statement.

The clubs did not confirm how much Ronaldo was signing up for, but it was widely reported to be a €100m fee on a four-year deal.

In a letter posted on Real Madrid’s website, the multiple Ballon d’Or winner said his time in Madrid had been one of the happiest in his life.

“I only have feelings of huge thanks for this club, for the fans and for this city,” he said.

“But I think the time has come to open a new stage in my life and that’s why I asked the club to accept to transfer me.

“I ask everyone, and especially our supporters, to please understand me.”

Ronaldo, whose Portugal were knocked out of the World Cup last 16 by Uruguay, hinted after May’s Champions League victory against Liverpool that he was considering leaving the Santiago Bernabeu.

“It was very nice to be in Madrid,” he said at the time, using the past-tense. He later played down the statement, but doubts over his future at Madrid lingered.

Real Madrid has won the La Liga twice and the Champions League four times since Ronaldo moved there from Manchester United in 2009.