Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri confirmed earlier on Friday that Ronaldo has played his last game for the Italian giants and at that point, it seemed that the Portugal star was destined to sign for Pep Guardiola’s City side.

But Solskjaer, who played alongside Ronaldo at United, has made a dramatic intervention amid outcry from United’s fanbase at one of their finest every players joining their fierce rivals.

Allegri said: “Yesterday, Ronaldo told me that he no longer has any intention to play for Juventus.

“He is not available for tomorrow’s match against Empoli. He’s going to look for a new club after three years here.’

Ronaldo bid his team-mates farewell in a 40-minute meeting with his Juventus team-mates on Friday morning and at that point, his moved to City looked to be becoming a formality.

City manager Guardiola was coy over the prospect of signing Ronaldo at his own press conference on Friday, before it emerged the club had withdrawn from the race to sign him.