He’s one of the greatest players of all time, but with a year left on his contract Juventus are prepared to sell Cristiano Ronaldo.
Manchester City are one of the clubs to have made contact with Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes, with some reports suggesting personal terms have already been agreed.
It raises the previously unlikely possibility that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could play for the city rivals of Manchester United, the English club for whom he starred under Sir Alex Ferguson between 2003 and 2009, and for Pep Guardiola, a manager synonymous with his great rival Lionel Messi.
So why is this suddenly gathering pace – and will he fit in at Manchester City if the deal does happen before Tuesday’s transfer deadline? BBC Radio 5 Live’s team of European experts – Raphael Honigstein, Julien Laurens and Kristof Terreur – have been discussing these questions and more.
Why do Juventus want to get rid of Ronaldo?
Ronaldo, 36, is known to be frustrated at how his move to Juventus has turned out. The Italian giants have not made it past the quarter-finals of the Champions League since his arrival in Turin and the Serie A club have been beaten in the last 16 in the past two campaigns. Last season, they lost their league title after winning it for nine years in a row and only scraped into the Champions League places in the last couple of games. Ronaldo was left out of Massimiliano Allegri’s starting XI as Juventus drew their Serie A opener against Udinese – something the club insisted was a joint decision with the player.
Honigstein: “Juventus are really trying to offload Ronaldo and there is even talk of him maybe going for free because they are so desperate to get him off the wage bill and because of how little in their mind he is contributing – not enough.
“I asked [Italian football writer] James Horncastle earlier if Juventus are stronger with or without Ronaldo in the Champions League and he had no hesitation in saying ‘without Ronaldo’. That’s what Juventus think of him at the moment and not just for financial reasons. It’s really interesting that City and Guardiola think that he is somehow going to be the missing piece that stands between them and the Champions League when it didn’t work out at Juventus that way.”
Laurens: “If you are Juventus and you know City want him and you know that City have been sat on £150m that was ready for Harry Kane, Juventus need that money to come in so they don’t make a loss on the whole Cristiano Ronaldo time at the club. I think this one will get sorted pretty quickly. I think this one will happen.”
Is he compatible with Guardiola’s philosophy?
Guardiola has often favoured playing without a central striker. When he arrived at City, he insisted on an increased workrate from Sergio Aguero to help press opponents from the front. This is not something Ronaldo has tended to offer in recent seasons.
Laurens: “The question is fair – is Ronaldo really compatible with Pep’s football, with Pep’s philosophy? I think we all agree it’s more a ‘no’ than a ‘yes’. But you know he’s going to score a lot of goals because they are going to create so many chances for him, even if he doesn’t do all of the pressing and all the counter-pressing and movement that Pep asks of him.
“We know Pep is going to leave at the end of his contract in two years’ time so it’s a short-term option anyway. Maybe if you go down that route then you also make it work for Cristiano in the short term and maybe it’s Pep who is also going to adapt a little bit to having Cristiano in his team, as much as Cristiano adapting his own game to what Pep wants.”
Honigstein: “He doesn’t strike you as a Pep player. He doesn’t strike you as someone who wants to play in a collective system. It’s a strange one, but really exciting for all of us to see how it’s going to play out.
“For a team that effectively walked the Premier League, for a team that was one dodgy line-up away from winning the Champions League, Guardiola somehow persuades himself that he needs Jack Grealish and Harry Kane to complete the puzzle. That seems counter-intuitive and now to go for Cristiano Ronaldo seems even more counter-intuitive. I just couldn’t contemplate that City would go for him, and now here we are on the verge of this move happening.”
Terreur: “It’s strange and it seems like a panic move. I never get clubs signing a plan B who doesn’t suit what they were looking for. I don’t understand that, but of course it will boost the commercial phase and he will score a lot of goals. But it’s not really long-term thinking and that was something City looked pretty good at in the past.”
Would signing Ronaldo affect any Man City Haaland bid?
Norway striker Erling Braud Haaland is believed to have a £64m release clause in his contract that comes into force next summer, and Guardiola has previously spoken of his desire to sign the 21-year-old.
Honigstein: “I don’t think signing Ronaldo would stop City pursuing Haaland, but it might stop Haaland saying ‘City is a good option for me’.
“Remember he moved to Dortmund not because they paid a lot more money or were more glamourous than some of the clubs that were interested, but because they were the one club who said they had a vacancy in the number nine spot.
“They could guarantee him being that focal point. If Ronaldo is there it will be a little bit more difficult for Pep and City to make that point persuasively.”
RUAN-Badkid.96 is a Nigerian recording artist whose music refuses to live inside a single genre. Blending Afrobeat, Afrofusion, trap, hip-hop, melodic rap, R&B, and global influences, he creates records that move effortlessly between raw street energy, soulful storytelling, and infectious melodies. Whether delivering hard-hitting bars, emotional love songs, or rhythm-driven African records, his sound is defined by authenticity rather than limitation.
Inspired by both African culture and international music, RUAN-Badkid.96 embraces the confidence and ambition of global hip-hop while staying deeply connected to his roots. His lyrics explore love, heartbreak, betrayal, friendship, social injustice, hope, and the everyday realities of life. He doesn’t create music to follow trends, he creates music to reflect truth, emotion, and human experience.
Behind his fearless image is an artist who believes in kindness, equality, justice, and genuine human connection. His appearance may be intimidating, but his message is rooted in compassion and authenticity. Every record carries a piece of his journey, proving that strength and vulnerability can exist in the same voice.
For RUAN-Badkid.96, music is more than entertainment, it’s a language, a testimony, and a lifelong mission to connect with people through honesty, versatility, and unforgettable sound.
Entertainment Gists
Meet the Man Who Turned Hype Into a Science: Emmy Blaq, Nigeria’s G.O.A.T. of Hype
If you have ever been at a Nigerian event and found yourself on your feet before the main act even stepped on stage, there is a good chance a hype man was responsible. But not just any hype man. Emmy Blaq, born Ikechukwu Emmanuel Chima and raised in Auchi, Edo State, has spent the last few years quietly becoming the most talked-about name in that profession, and the Nigerian press has taken notice. Punch, Vanguard, The Guardian Nigeria, The Nation, and Independent Newspaper have all sat down with him, and every conversation leads back to the same thing: this man does not just make noise; he makes moments.
What makes Emmy Blaq different is the journey behind the energy. Before the stages, the collaborations with Waje on her “Waje 2.0” album, DJ Consequence, and DJ Kaywise on the massively streamed “Joor Party Mix” series, he was repairing generators, cutting hair, and sewing clothes in Auchi. His first professional hype gig happened at a local fast food spot called Valchi, and the crowd response that night changed everything. He told The Nation directly: “My passion for entertainment and desire to make people happy led me into the craft.” Punch also captured his bigger mission when he said that hype men deserve more than what they currently earn, a statement that sparked a real conversation across Nigerian entertainment circles.
With over 1.7 million TikTok followers, 23.6 million TikTok likes, a viral “Wife Material” challenge that landed on Pulse Nigeria’s top ten social media moments of 2021, and an international performance at the Cameroon International Music Festival that Cameroonian media described as electrifying, Emmy Blaq is not building toward something. He is already there. The G.O.A.T. of Hype is not a title he gave himself and hoped would stick. It is one the rooms keep confirming every single time he grabs the mic.
MANAGER PROFILE
Uncle Wisdom is a Lagos-based music executive and visionary leader known for blending structure, strategy, and creativity in artist management. With a background in Mathematics and Statistics from UNICROSS formerly, Cross River University Of Technology. He brings analytical precision into talent development, positioning artists for both creative excellence and commercial success.
CAREER JOURNEY
Began his career in 2017 as an event coordinator for Eksu Olofofo, where he gained foundational experience in live events and audience engagement. By 2018, he transitioned into full-time artist management, driven by a clear goal to build a more structured and results-oriented system within the music industry.
In 2019, Started working as a road manager for Barry Jhay, gaining hands-on experience in touring, logistics, and artist operations, a refined career and mental awareness coach . He was also instrumental behind Barry Jhay’s 2025 sold-out homecoming concert, a key moment that fueled momentum for a successful UK tour, including sold-out shows in London and Birmingham.
PHLOX MGMT
Founded from the ground up, Phlox Mgmt is a forward-thinking management company focused on Career coaching, A&R, artist development, and strategic positioning. The company is built on a clear philosophy:
Develop the sound. Define the brand. Position the artist to win.
Phlox Mgmt has connections with @Roadgod_of Roadgod Agency and connects artists with top-tier producers, engineers, and creatives, ensuring a refined sound and strong market presence. The company continues to grow as a trusted platform for emerging and established talent.
INDUSTRY NETWORK & COLLABORATIONS
Uncle Wisdom has built valuable relationships across the industry, working with and alongside talents such as:
Barry Jhay • Asake • Ceeza Milli • Berri Tiga • Laime • Spellz • and many others
LEADERSHIP APPROACH
John Wisdom operates with a long-term vision, focusing on structure, consistency, and execution. His approach goes beyond traditional management he builds systems around artists that support sustainable growth, strong branding, and global competitiveness.
CONTACT & SOCIALS
Instagram & X: @Johnwisdm @phlox_mgmt
TikTok: @unclewisdom7
Email: phloxentertainment@gmail.com
Phone: 08038448478 | 09015668027
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