Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez attempted to reverse his transfer.
In July 2018, Ronaldo left many stunned after completing a giant €117 million (R2.2 billion) move to Juventus.
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The five-time Ballon d'Or winner had spent nine seasons at the Santiago Bernabéu, where he became Los Blancos' all-time top scorer with 450 goals in 438 matches for the club, as per Transfermarkt.
Now, almost seven years after his exit from the Spanish capital, Ronaldo has revealed how Pérez reacted to his departure, admitting that the Real president wanted him to remain at the club and turn down Juventus.
Speaking with Edu Aguirre on La Sexta, Ronaldo explained: "I wanted a different chapter, my time there was over. I needed a new motivation.
"It wasn't exhausting for me—it was something I told the president, and he accepted that I could leave. We were in negotiations, and he didn't handle it too well with me. I understand, though, because that's how he always does things.
"But I couldn't go back on my word because I had already given it to Juventus, and the president then wanted to reverse it. But I really appreciate Florentino; he's a serious person, he treated me well, and we won many things together."
Commenting on the possibility of a return to Real someday, Ronaldo added: "Maybe one day. I don't rule it out. I left a legacy there, a beautiful mark. Maybe when I finish my career, we can do something special.
"People today appreciate those clashes with Barcelona—we lived a whole week with sky-high tension. The fans, the media talking about the game. Madrid-Barcelona, Cristiano-Messi, Piqué and Ramos… it was beautiful, a rivalry that existed and was healthy."
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By Lukhanyo Mtuta
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