---
title: "Manchester City: Decision not to sign Cristiano Ronaldo ‘was theirs’"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/man-city-cristiano-ronaldo-manchester-united-mike-keegan-latest-transfer-news-rumours-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Chloe Chadwick"
section: "Manchester City News"
published: "2022-11-18T17:35:50Z"
modified: "2022-11-18T17:35:50Z"
---

# Manchester City: Decision not to sign Cristiano Ronaldo ‘was theirs’

**[Manchester City](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-news/) not signing Cristiano Ronaldo last summer was their ‘decision’ contrary to what the 37-year-old claimed, according to journalist [Mike Keegan](https://twitter.com/MikeKeegan_DM).**

### The Lowdown: Ronaldo’s Premier League return

The Portuguese veteran was looking for his next destination after leaving Juventus in 2021, and despite being [heavily linked](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-city-ronaldo-united-guardiola-21425740) with a move to the Sky Blues, he went back to Manchester United in a long-awaited return to the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/).

During a recent interview, Ronaldo [claimed](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63656472) that he turned down the opportunity to link up with Pep Guardiola after holding a conversation with former boss Sir Alex Ferguson, although a contradictory update has now emerged from elsewhere.

### The Latest: Man City pulled the plug

Taking to [Twitter](https://twitter.com/mikekeegan_dm/status/1593223330467033089?s=46&t=Cx68G0zm_LH5hGo5Ni7EFQ), Keegan denied the suggestion made by Ronaldo and revealed that it was in fact City’s decision to pull the plug in August 2021 which meant the transfer collapsed.

He wrote: “Raised eyebrows at Manchester City over Cristiano Ronaldo’s claims. Doesn’t tally with their recollection. Told decision to withdraw was theirs, not his. Similar to Tuchel’s later stance at Chelsea. A distraction not needed in a dressing room already packed with winners.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”415385″\]

### The Verdict: Correct decision

The Manchester United striker is undoubtedly world-class, having clocked up [924](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/cristiano-ronaldo/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/8198) goal contributions in 949 appearances throughout his club career, but taking the decision not to sign him was the right one from City.

\[freshpress-poll id=”415986″\]

Over the past few days, [he has shown](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwju7syr0Lf7AhWhTUEAHXRaDL0QFnoECBAQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mirror.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Fnews%2Fcristiano-ronaldo-full-transcript-piersmorgan-28518943&usg=AOvVaw0pc1mDIMTYL95APdmnhZag) how he can react when things might not be going to plan behind the scenes; and if this is how he responds to not being played in every game, he surely isn’t a character that Guardiola would want to have in the dressing room.

Erling Haaland was a much better alternative to hold out for, and given his positive attitude and [explosive start to life](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/erling-haaland/leistungsdaten/spieler/418560) in the English top flight, it’s easy to see why the Etihad hierarchy wanted to land him instead of Ronaldo.