Manchester City are surprised by Ronaldo's statement about a possible transfer in 2021

Manchester City were surprised to hear Cristiano Ronaldo claim he was close to a move to the Etihad in the summer of 2021.

As Sky Sports reports, the "townsmen" believe that the Portuguese's words are not true. City were indeed interested in the 37-year-old when he was at Juventus, but an official offer was a long way off. After failed talks with Harry Kane, Pep Guardiola's side have signed Erling Holland.

"To be honest, I was close to moving to the Etihad. They talked a lot and Guardiola said two weeks ago that they tried very hard to sign me. But, as you know, my story is at Manchester United. My heart is here, I feel the way I used to feel, and this has made a difference. And of course Sir Alex Ferguson. It was a conscious decision, because at that moment the voice of the heart prevailed," Ronaldo was quoted as saying by The Sun.