Manchester City Transfer News: Cristiano Ronaldo Deal Expected, Latest Rumours

Manchester City's players believe a "successful" deal to bring Cristiano Ronaldo to the Etihad Stadium has been put on the table, according to Spanish football expert Graham Hunter.

Speaking on Sky Sports' Revista de la Liga show, Hunter outlined something of a left field rumour surrounding the Real Madrid man:

"

I know that the players at Manchester City were talking very, very firmly that they believed there was a successful move coming from that club over the last couple of weeks. Whether that makes it true or not, I wouldn't like to say.

What we know is the mega clubs, with petrodollars, there's never been a better time to say: 'Well, would you like to cash in on your chips?'

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Hunter indicates "it will always be down to the player" to decide his future. Additionally, he says, "I don't think he has decided to leave yet," per Sky Sports.

Guillem Balague, Hunter's colleague on Revista de la Liga, recently reiterated his assertion that Ronaldo will remain in the Spanish capital beyond the summer.

"Ronaldo will stay next season, no doubt about it, he will be a Real Madrid player next season," he wrote in response to a viewer's question on the player's potential departure, reported by Sky Sports.

There's little doubt a move to City would rank among football's most dramatic. Ronaldo is, of course, a Manchester United legend and someone the Red Devils are continually linked with re-signing, per Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express. He shot to global stardom at Old Trafford, where he won every trophy worth winning and defined Sir Alex Ferguson's last truly great team.

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He is a player many United fans long for, someone who symbolised both the club's silverware success and marketing power. World-class stars have been hard to come by since Ronaldo's departure, perhaps summarised by Angel Di Maria's poor run of form this season.

In September, Ronaldo admitted his emotion toward United and even suggested he wishes to run out in the famous red shirt once more, reported by ESPN:

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I love Manchester (United). Everyone knows that. I have said it many times. Manchester is in my heart. I left many good friends there, the supporters are amazing and I wish I can come back one day. 

I am happy in Real Madrid and have four more years (on my contract), but in the future you never know because they treated me unbelievably there. I really did love being at Manchester United.

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It would be strange for the player to dismiss this feeling toward United in order to join their rivals. City now rank among England's best and are a developing force on the continent, but does Ronaldo envisage regularly scoring beyond his old side and hampering their success? It seems unlikely.

Nothing can be ruled out in football, and City have the funds to acquire most players in the world. Hefty sales would likely need to be made to fund an individual of Ronaldo's ilk, however, particularly after the club ran into difficulty satisfying UEFA's financial fair play rules last season.

We can expect a refresh of Manuel Pellegrini's squad in the summer, one where the money received is spent straight on players. Considering City spent £28 million on Wilfried Bony in January without any major outgoings, per BBC Sport, it's likely the squad will be cut before another big name arrives.

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City are also being linked with a move for Gareth Bale, Ronaldo's team-mate at the Bernabeu, per Darren Lewis of the Mirror. This perhaps seems the more likely of the two moves—particularly due to the pressure and scrutiny on Bale at the moment—but would still come as a major surprise.

You can never rule a club like City out, though. City have plenty of cash to spend, improving facilities and ambition. Signing someone like Ronaldo would boost the club's profile across the globe and underline the side as Manchester's dominant team.

However, whether or not Ronaldo could bring himself to go against the supporters he so publicly loves remains to be seen.