Manchester United Transfer News: Huge Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo Rumours

Manchester United are prepared to trigger deals to capture either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, according to a prominent English journalist. 

The Sun's Neil Custis believes the Red Devils will move for either of the iconic superstars the moment they are given any encouragement, saying of the Barcelona wizard: "Any indication from the Messi camp that he is after pastures new and they would be straight in there."

United have pursued Messi's team-mate Neymar in recent months, but Custis said the club would turn their attentions to Messi and Ronaldo if either gave an indication they want to head to the Premier League:

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It was thought the pull of Manchester United in world football had diminished since Sir Alex Ferguson bowed out at Old Trafford.

The very fact that Neymar is about to have his wages doubled at The Nou Camp to £500,000 a week shows it hasn’t.

Such is the concern surrounding United’s interest in the Brazilian star, 23, that he will be propelled into the same wage brackets as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Two other players who United would not hesitate in trying to get to Old Trafford.

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Between Messi and Ronaldo, the attackers have shared the Ballon d'Or for the past seven years, with the former United hero winning three times, according to the Telegraph.

The Red Devils have slipped in status over the past two seasons, but they have begun an incredible rebuilding process that has seen their ownership sanction a huge amount of money to be spent on transfers. 

Custis added United are not afraid to take on the superpowers of the Spanish game and will flex their financial muscle when it comes to dealing with La Liga's top clubs, citing the Red Devils' handling of the transfer of David De Gea to Madrid as an example of how the English powerhouse do not fear Los Blancos nor the Blaugrana:

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United are a club under the executive vice chairman Ed Woodward who are not afraid to ruffle the feathers of the likes of Real and Barca.

In the past to go for one of their top stars seemed futile, so they didn’t even try, while Real came knocking in the opposite direction and plucked Ronaldo away. A steal at £80million as it seems now.

But United were not prepared to be messed around this summer by Real in their pursuit of David De Gea making it very clear what their terms were.

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Custis also confirmed United have already made two attempts to bring Ronaldo back to the club, as many believe the Portugal captain will make his way back to the north-west before the end of his career for a "romantic" reunion with the Stretford End faithful. 

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague also believes Messi could depart the Camp Nou, telling Revista Bitesize (h/t Sky Sports) the player might soon transfer away from Barcelona, as noted by Bleacher Report:

United have recently appointed financial guru Cliff Baty as their new chief financial officer, as the club prepare to leapfrog Madrid and Barca as the world's richest team. 

The incredible financial weight of the Premier League's new TV deal, coupled with United's gargantuan sponsorship contract with Adidas, should see United usurp the Spanish pair, per Mike Keegan of the MailOnline.

The Adidas deal is worth £750 million to United alone, as noted by Keegan, and with the German multinational company's power in the game, the Red Devils will have an increased chance at capturing the world's best players. 

Close Friend Says Ronaldo Wants English Return

Thibault Camus/Associated Press

A former team-mate and close friend of Ronaldo has claimed the player favours a switch to the Premier League before he retires, putting United on red alert.

Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Jose Semedo told talkSPORT his former Sporting Lisbon colleague is "very happy" at the Bernabeu, but Semedo is adamant he will return to England to finish his football career:

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He is very happy at Real Madrid and he loves English football, he loves English people and deep down I think he will come back to England.

He doesn’t like he wants to finish his career without coming back to England.

He said he would wish Real Madrid is in England, but that is not possible so I believe he will end his career in English football.

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The pair were at Sporting together before United brought Ronaldo to England as a teenager, and they have remained friends since that time, with talkSPORT declaring the two players often holiday together. 

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

If United could grab either Messi or Ronaldo—it would not only be a game-changer for the English club, but it would reshape the fabric of world football. 

The two players have achieved everything with their current teams, and it cannot be denied that Premier League clubs will soon have the advantage at the negotiating table when it comes to the top transfers in the game.

Messi and Ronaldo might want to be part of the biggest spectacle in football as the Premier League grows in popularity, wealth and status.

And if United do become the richest club on the planet in 2016-17, the possibility of the two best players in the world coming to Old Trafford will move one step closer from fantasy to reality.