Real Madrid Announces Cristiano Ronaldo's Transfer to Juventus

Cristiano Ronaldo has been with Real Madrid since 2009.

After spending nine years with Real Madrid, Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo is headed to Serie A champion Juventus, Real Madrid announced Tuesday.

In what is certainly the biggest transfer since Neymar went from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain around this time last year, the clubs have agreed on a move that will send the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to the Italian club from La Liga. Juvenus confirmed a transfer fee of €100 million, while also stating it has signed Ronaldo to a four-year deal. Reports state that he'll make €30 million per year over the course of his deal.

Ronaldo is coming off a club run with Real Madrid in which the squad won four of the last five Champions League titles and also captured the La Liga titles for the 2011-12 and 2016-17 seasons. The club won 16 trophies in total during Ronaldo's nine seasons.

"These years in Real Madrid, and in this city of Madrid, have been possibly the happiest of my life," Ronaldo wrote in an open letter to the club's supporters. "I only have feelings of enormous gratitude for this club, for this hobby and for this city. I can only thank all of them for the love and affection I have received. However, I believe that the time has come to open a new stage in my life and that is why I have asked the club to accept transferring me. I feel that way and I ask everyone, and especially our followers, to please understand me."

Real Madrid captain and longtime teammate Sergio Ramos and Gareth Bale offered gracious parting words for Ronaldo:

.@Cristiano, your goals, your numbers and everything we've won together speak for themselves. You have earned a special place in the history of @RealMadrid. As Madridistas we'll remember you always. It's been a pleasure to play alongside you, bicho. Big hig and good luck! 🍀👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/NaywaDd3gw

— Sergio Ramos (@SergioRamos) July 10, 2018

An incredible player and a top guy! It has been a pleasure to play alongside you for the last 5 years. Good luck for the future my friend 🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/KBYLMYaWjP

— Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) July 10, 2018

While former Real Madrid teammate and Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira had a welcome for his new teammate:

Benvenuto a Torino, Cristiano 🏴🏳 We had a great time together in Madrid, I can‘t wait to get back to work with you! Today is a special day for @juventusfc! 💪🏽 #FinoAllaFine #ForzaJuve #SK6 @cristiano pic.twitter.com/iU4ULPeHmg

— Sami Khedira (@SamiKhedira) July 10, 2018

One of the most prolific goal scorers to ever play the game, Ronaldo scored 451 goals in his 438 games with the Real Madrid. He has scored 10 of his record 120 Champions League goal against Juventus, a record for a single player against another team in the competition, according to statistics outfit Opta.

Ronaldo at Real Madrid:

Games: 438
Goals: 451
Major honours: 16#UCL 🏆: 4 (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)#UCL ⚽: 105
UEFA Best Player: 3 (2014, 2016, 2017)
UEFA Team of the Year: 9 (2009-2017)
Ballons d'Or: 4 (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)
Golden Shoe: 3 (2010-11, 2013-14, 2014-15) pic.twitter.com/Vvc4JBik7F

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) July 10, 2018

In the 2018 World Cup, Ronaldo impressed for Portugal scoring four goals in four matches, including a hat trick in the opener against Spain. His 85 international goals are the second most all-time, behind Iranian great Ali Daei's 109.