Juventus are said to be yearning to offload Ronaldo who will be 36 in February and Townsend believes the Portugal superstar could be the short-term replacement of Sergio Aguero, who has been tipped to leave Etihad at the end of the season.
Ronaldo is considered as a legend at Manchester United, having played over 290 games for the Citizens’ local rivals scoring 118 goals between 2003 and 2009.
Townsend has acknowledged the fact that Ronaldo might pass up the chance of playing for Manchester City due to his affiliation with the Red Devils.
“If you want goals then I think he’s still the ultimate goal machine,” he said on talkSPORT. “I know Messi and there has been so much mileage on the debate over the years but I still think Ronaldo still has the desire and want to be remembered as the greatest. He will in some people’s eyes but he won’t in others.
“He’s still got a desire to score goals. More than anything on the field now, he just wants to score goals. Cristiano is at that period where his eyes light up every time there’s a free-kick at whatever angle. Whenever he gets the chance to shoot he will. Even when others are better placed, forget that. He’s unbelievable in the air, which we’ve seen in a Juventus shirt already.
“If he became available and Juve wanted out on him and Man City needed goals for their team then I don’t think you should hesitate in going to get Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s 35 and I still think he’s got 18 months in him. If he came to Man City and the way they play I think he could go there and get 25 in his first season.”
