The Premier League champions began the defence of their title on Sunday with a 1-0 defeat at Tottenham which laid bare their need for further attacking reinforcements.

City’s all-time leading goalscorer Sergio Aguero played a bit-part role in last season’s success and departed for Barcelona earlier this summer, but he is yet to be directly replaced.

Ferran Torres led the line against Spurs, but he was easily nullified by Tottenham’s defence, while this summer’s headline recruit, Jack Grealish, made a limited impact coming off the bench.

Gabriel Jesus, meanwhile, remains an option for Pep Guardiola but the Brazil international has rarely threatened to establish himself as City’s first choice striker over the course of his three-and-a-half years.

City have been presented with the option to buy Ronaldo by his agent Jorge Mendes and even though he would be available for a relatively modest fee, in the region of £25million, Harry Kane remains Pep Guardiola’s No.1 transfer priority and will press ahead with plans to sign the England captain ahead of the impending transfer deadline.

Addressing the constant speculation surrounding his future last night, Ronaldo issued a passionate statement, insisting he considers much of the conjecture ‘disrespectful’.

He wrote on Instagram: ‘Anyone who knows me is aware of how focused I am on my work. Less talk and more action, this has been my guiding motto since the start of my career.

‘However, in view of everything that’s been said and written recently, I have to set out my position.

‘More than the disrespect for me as a man and as a player, the frivolous way that my future is covered in the media is disrespectful to all the clubs involved in these rumours, as well as to their players and staff.

‘My story at Real Madrid has been written. It’s been recorded. In words and numbers, in trophies and titles, in records and in headlines. It’s in the Museum at the Bernabeu Stadium and it’s also in the minds of every fan of the club.

‘And beyond what I achieved, I remember that in those nine years I had a relationship of deep affection and respect for “merengue afición”, an affection and respect that I retain to this day, and that I will always cherish.

 ‘I know that the true Real Madrid fans will continue to have me in their hearts, and I will have them in mine.

‘As well as this most recent episode in Spain, there have been frequent news and stories associating me with a number of clubs in many different Leagues, with nobody ever being concerned about trying to find out the actual truth.

‘I’m breaking my silence now to say that I can’t allow people to keep playing around with my name.

‘I remain focused on my career and in my work, committed and prepared for all the challenges that I have to face. Everything else? Everything else is just talk.’