Soccer Transfer Rumors 2014: Frank Lampard to Join Manchester City; Cristiano Ronaldo Won’t Play Against Manchester United

By John Santisteban | Aug 01, 2014 11:56 PM EDT

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Frank Lampard will play in the English Premier League season again next season as reports indicated that the former Chelsea midfielder will join Manchester City.

Lampard recently made a move to City's Major League Soccer sister club - the New York City FC - but the veteran midfielder will spend time in Manchester before joining the MLS expansion club in 2015.

The New York City FC, a club co-owned by Manchester City and the New York Yankees baseball club, is not scheduled to play until March 2015, giving Lampard the chance to have a short-term stint in England.

Lampard reportedly rejected a move to another sister club, the Melbourne City, because the 36-year-old wanted to stay in England as he is still looking to earn a spot in England's team for the Euro 2016 qualifying tournament.

Lampard, who had 11 goals and six assists in all competition last season, recently said that he is determined to stay in shape and top-level fitness before his move to MLS, the reason why NYFC opted to put him on loan to the Premier League.

"I will have to keep fit. I'll have to train at the very top level, whether that's on my own or with a club somewhere, I'll have to see," Lampard said last week via ESPN FC. "Of course I'll keep fit and make sure my levels don't drop too much. Of course I'll keep fit and make sure my levels don't drop too much."

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo will not play against Manchester United, his former club, in the final group stage match of the 2014 International Champions Cup on Saturday.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that their star forward won't return, saying that they want to keep him fresh for their upcoming stint in the Super Cup.

"Ronaldo is working hard but we won't put him out tomorrow," Ancelotti said on Friday. "He will begin training with the squad [in Spain] after the tour as we plan to use him in the Super Cup."

Real Madrid will collide with Manchester United in a match that is expected to break the record for the most number of spectators in a soccer game in the United States as the University of Michigan's stadium can hold around 109,000 fans.

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