It seems that Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo is in big trouble, as he faces accusations of vandalizing a historic district in central Manchester following he bought an ancient building promising to turn it into a four-star hotel, while preserving its historical character.
The famous footballer has come under fire from the City Council for not starting any work on 67 Piccadilly, following promising to restore it as an 11-storey luxury building as part of a £27m project.
The building is in a dilapidated condition
Angry mayors now believe the building will deteriorate further and prevent public benefits from being redeveloped. This delay will give a bad impression of the area to a large number of people and might detract from investment, according to the British newspaper, Daily Mail.
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Building 67 Piccadilly
Opening of a hotel chain
On the other hand, sources close to the Portuguese star revealed that he feels “closer” with the city and wants to put it on the map globally by opening a hotel as part of his Pestana chain, as he already has hotels in London and Lisbon.
The building had been in poor condition for 15 years, but fortunes changed in 2020 when Ronaldo secured planning permission to turn it into a future hotel.
Ronaldo
Originally scheduled to open in 2023, it is expected to employ more than 900 people and add £56 million to the local economy.
Going forward, the hotel is set to have 151 bedrooms, and accommodation is expected to cost between £130 and £250 a night.
It is noteworthy that Ronaldo bought the property a year before his return to Manchester United, 18 years following his first appearance with the English Premier League club with his Spanish fiancée Georgina Rodriguez and their children.
