Shares in Juventus FC jumped almost 10 per cent on Thursday on the back of reports that Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo might soon join the Italian club.
For a second day running, Juventus, Italy's most successful soccer team, declined to comment on the reports.
At 1230 GMT, Juventus shares were trading 9 percent higher at 0.81 euros. Over the last three days, shares in the club have surged more than 20 percent in heavy trading volumes, as speculation over a Ronaldo transfer mounted.
READ| Ronaldo has already joined Juve - Moggi
Several Italian newspapers said on Thursday that Ronaldo's agent was expected to meet Real Madrid president Florentino Perez later the same day to discuss the possible transfer.
Juventus won a seventh successive Serie A title in May, bringing its overall tally to a record 34 titles.
“It would be a big deal, increasing the team's appeal and also because it would be bigger business for Juve, through merchandising,” a Milan-based trader said.
Ronaldo, who joined Real from Manchester United in 2008 for a then world record 80 million pounds ($105.9 million), is the Spanish club's all-time top scorer with 451 goals in all competitions and has won two La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies with the side.
Despite the glut of silverware, however, the five-times world player of the year has had frequent fallouts with Real and has declared on several occasions that he wants to leave the club.
Moments after lifting a third consecutive Champions League trophy by helping Real beat Liverpool 3-1 in the final on May 26, Ronaldo appeared to suggest he had already decided to leave, telling a television reporter on the pitch at Kiev's NSC Olympic Stadium: “It was beautiful to play for Real Madrid.”
The 33-year-old appeared to backtrack on that statement during Real's celebration parade through the Spanish capital the next day, when he told a mass of supporters: “See you next season.”
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