Wayne Rooney does not believe Cristiano Ronaldo will risk his legacy at Manchester United by joining rivals Man City

Wayne Rooney does not believe Cristiano Ronaldo will risk his legacy at Manchester United by joining rivals Man City.

Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes is in talks with City over a sensational move to the Etihad, with the club open to a free transfer if the Juventus star accepts a cut to his £500,000-a-week salary.

But Rooney, who played with Ronaldo at Old Trafford from 2004-2009, has his doubts as to whether a deal will go through because of 36-year-old’s pride in his United legacy.

When asked about the possibility of United joining City, the Derby boss said: ‘I don’t know what to make of it, to be honest.

‘If you’re asking me if I think it’s possible then I have major doubts that it is a possibility.

‘Cristiano has got a great legacy at United. I don’t think he’s going to move somewhere for financial reasons.’

Rooney added that Ronaldo would not need to join City for financial reasons and added that it would be more likely he signs for Paris Saint-Germain.

In a separate interview with talkSPORT, Rooney said: ‘I think Cristiano has got a very good legacy at Manchester United and I know how proud he is as a player and a person. I can’t see it, but it’s football so you never know.

‘I think you need to do what’s right for you as a person, for your family.

‘Everyone knows I could never play for Liverpool or Manchester City. That’s obvious but everyone’s different.

‘I think people move to clubs where they don’t really want to but from a financial point of view that might be the only option they have, so I might get it from some people’s point of view.

‘But in terms of myself that just wouldn’t be an option.’

Rooney was linked with a move to City himself in 2010 after handing in a transfer request at United, before making a u-turn and signing a new five-year deal with the club.

City were offered Ronaldo last week but a move only became possible after their pursuit of Harry Kane collapsed.

They have not committed themselves to a move for Ronaldo, who will be 37 in February, and it is understood there is no agreement yet with either Juventus or the player.