‘Dodged a huge bullet there’ – Many fans react as journalists reveal Pep Guardiola ‘would have left the club’ over potential signing as Man City execs were ‘tempted’

Manchester City fans have been reacting to a post on Twitter which relays a report that claims Pep Guardiola would have left the club prematurely had the Cityzens signed Cristiano Ronaldo in 2021.

Manchester United announced on Tuesday (November 22) that they have parted ways with Cristiano Ronaldo by mutual agreement. The decision came on the back of his controversial interview with Piers Morgan.

Ronaldo notably rejoined Manchester United last year, 12 years after leaving the club for Real Madrid. His return was one that excited Red Devils fans, but the transfer has ultimately not gone to plan for all parties involved.

The sad end to the forward’s stint at Old Trafford has left many wondering what would have happened had he joined Manchester City last year. He was notably linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium before Manchester United swooped in.

Some Ronaldo fans believe the 37-year-old would have done well had he joined the Cityzens instead of Manchester United last year. However, it appears Guardiola was never keen on the idea of signing the forward in the first place.

According to The Athletic [via @City_Xtra on Twitter, Ronaldo’s arrival at Manchester City would have prompted the Spaniard to leave the club. It is believed that the manager would have stepped down from his role prematurely had his employers signed the superstar.

There are senior sources at #ManCity who believe that if Cristiano Ronaldo had joined the club in the summer of 2021, Pep Guardiola would not have stayed at @ManCity until the end of his then-contract in 2023.

[@polballus/@SamLee]

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) November 22, 2022

The Athletic reported on Tuesday that Guardiola has agreed to commit his future to the English champions until 2025. However, it is worth noting that his previous deal with the club was due to expire in 2023.

It thus means that the former Barcelona boss would have left the Cityzens before the end of the current season had they signed Ronaldo. City fans will now be pleased to learn that the club did not step up their interest in the forward last year.

The report shared on Twitter gathered a number of replies from a wide range of Man City supporters. Here’s how City fans on Twitter reacted to the news.

“Straight up lies!!!.”
Credit: @Sterling_777

“That’s not true. It’s the coach who requests the player he wants in the team. Why Pep would leave if he wanted Ronaldo in his team?????”
Credit: @M17ZM17

“I think the point is Pep would never in a million years have wanted a 36/37 year old Ronaldo standing still all game. The club gave it consideration, not Pep.”
Credit: @Chris_G_Howard

“If some senior staff believed that Pep would not complete his contract, then why would City even pursue Cristiano? ”
Credit: @khokanDATTA

“How tho? Pep makes the choices for players we sign, unless the board goes behind his back, which has really never happened”
Credit: @JonesChiewelite

“Hilarious how all this comes out conveniently when Ronaldo is in the news.”
Credit: @MilanZak6

“The club would never sign a player without the full approval of pep”
Credit: @C80192134

“Every thing happens for a reason”
Credit: @vho_Makhitha

“Dodged a huge bullet there”
Credit: @mcfcharry_