Juventus sign Real Madrid forward Ronaldo for 112 million euros

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has joined Juventus, the Spanish team announced Tuesday.

The two clubs reached a deal reportedly worth 112 million euros (about 132 millon U.S. dollars) and the 33-year-old Portuguese player signed a four-year deal with the Italian champions.

In this file photo taken on April 03, 2018 Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his second goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg football match between Juventus and Real Madrid at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. Real Madrid announced on July 10, 2018 Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer to Juventus. [File Photo: VCG]

"Real Madrid inform that, as per Cristiano Ronaldo's wishes and at his request, the club has allowed the player to complete his move to Juventus," the team said in a statement.

"Real Madrid would today like to place on record its thanks to a player who has shown himself to be the best in the world and made his mark on one of the greatest periods in our club's history and on the world game."

In his nine years at Real, Ronaldo became the Spanish team's leading scorer of all time, with 451 goals in his 438 appearances. He has won four Champions League titles in five years, and has been awarded the Ballon d'Or, or Player of the Year award, four times.

In this file photo taken on May 26, 2018 Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine on May 26, 2018. Real Madrid announced on July 10, 2018 the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to Italy's Juventus, with the Portuguese superstar saying the time had come "for a new stage" in his life. [File Photo: VCG]

In a letter posted to the Real Madrid website, Ronaldo wrote that "the time has come to begin a new stage in my life."

"These nine years have been absolutely marvelous," Ronaldo wrote. "They have been nine unique years (during which) I have faced the greatest of players. My respect and gratitude goes out to them all."

On social media, Ronaldo's move to the Turin-based team was hailed by the FIFA football federation, the UEFA European football federation, by his new teammates, including Juve players Paulo Dybala and Sami Khedira, and fans.

Among them was Turin Mayor Chiara Appendino. "Welcome Cristiano!" Appendino tweeted. "Congratulations to Juventus for achieving such a great objective."