Manchester City sparked Manchester United's decision to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus, it has been revealed.
The Manchester Evening News says City were the only club interested in signing the former Real Madrid star.
United appeared content with their attacking options having tied Edinson Cavani down to a new deal and signed Jadon Sancho for £73million from Borussia Dortmund.
But the report adds Old Trafford players and chiefs then whirred into action when it appeared the Portuguese was all set for a move to the Etihad Stadium, with the club unable to deal with the fact he could end up at their rivals.
Current midfielder Bruno Fernandes and Ronaldo's former team-mates Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and Darren Fletcher texted him after he had spoken with former boss Sir Alex Ferguson about returning to the club.
And the same outlet adds once Ronaldo was informed of United's reported two-year contract offer - which will see him earn an eyewatering £480,000 per week - he ended any interest in joining the blue half of Manchester.
The report also claims the move was given the go-ahead by the club's Glazer owners, who views Ronaldo's return as a way of getting the fans back on their side, having feared the repercussions if he had ended up signing for Pep Guardiola's men.
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