What next for Ronaldo?
Although Ronaldo's future is undecided and he might well be moved on if the buyer and the fee are right, at the moment, his manager seems to view him as part of the team at the English club.
There are just under three weeks to go until the start of the Premier League season and Cristiano Ronaldo still has not returned to Manchester United training.
The 37-year-old has expressed his desire to leave Old Trafford this summer and is hoping to force an exit after the Red Devils failed to qualify for the Champions League. Ronaldo scored 24 goals in 38 matches across all competitions last term including 18 in the league - trailing only Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min.
He was due to report back for pre-season training on July 4 but has not traveled on United's tour to the southern hemisphere due to 'family reasons'. The Portuguese superstar has since been keeping fit by himself and was even spotted taking part in some drills next to the Sheffield United team in his homeland over the weekend.
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Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have been linked with a move for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner but it seems as though all of those teams have ruled out a move for the player. Thomas Tuchel admires Ronaldo but does not think he will suit their style of football, while Los Blancos are searching for a younger forward to provide back-up for Karim Benzema, who is entering the twilight stage of his career.
Atletico Madrid are also believed to have turned down a swoop for Ronaldo, while Sporting Lisbon and Napoli have been mentioned as other options. Now, it has emerged Ronaldo's decision to leave is purely motivated by a desire to continue playing in the Champions League - rather than the Europa League with United this season.
According to Spanish outlet Sport, Ronaldo is highly concerned about Lionel Messi passing him as the competition's top scorer and is 'ready to do anything' for a transfer. His Argentinian rival is plying his trade at Paris Saint-Germain and will be competing in Europe's elite club competition this season - something Ronaldo will not be doing if he stays at the Red Devils.
Ronaldo has netted 140 goals in the Champions League - 15 more than second-placed Messi, who will have the chance to close the gap if the former does not play in the competition. Robert Lewandowski (86), Karim Benzema (86) and Raul (71) complete the top five.
After starting his career as a winger, Ronaldo did not score until his 27th Champions League game during his first spell at United. However, after switching from the wing to a central striking role, the Portuguese icon started to find the net with frightening regularity, continuing to rack up big numbers after leaving Old Trafford for Real Madrid.
But the fact Messi is over two years younger than Ronaldo could see the former Barcelona superstar to leapfrog him as the all-time Champions League top scorer. Messi netted five goals in seven European matches last season, including two against Manchester City.
Ten Hag planning with Ronaldo
Erik ten Hag, the new manager at United, has claimed that he is still part of the club's plans heading into the next season.
Speaking to ESPN in a press conference, ten Hag said "I am well informed he also has an option [to extend his contract until 2024] no? Of course, I have signed here for three years, but in football, it's short-term as well. We have to win from the start. So I don't look that far ahead." Ronaldo originally only penned a 2-year deal with the club when he signed last summer, but it appears as if he might choose not to see that contract out.
"I have a strategy, it's a process, it takes time, but in the end, we have to make sure from the outset there is a winning team," continued the Dutch manager.
Ronaldo is now 37 years old and the senior-most member of the team. In his first spell at United, between 2006 and 2009, he established himself as one of the best players in the world, and his return in 2021 was touted as a homecoming that would deliver United silverware. It wasn't to be, however, as United struggled through the season, and although the Portuguese superstar kept up his goalscoring form, it came at the cost of team cohesion.
"He is training. I think we all know Ronaldo is a top professional and he will be fit, that is the last concern I have. I think Cristiano is capable of doing that. In his career he has shown everything," said the new manager.
"I have set my demands. We want to play in a certain way. A top player can contribute and Ronaldo is an absolute top player in our squad." United are slightly short in attacking options, with Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani leaving the club after the expiry of his contract, and Mason Greenwood not having played since January due to his legal misdemeanors. However, the return of Anthony Martial from loan, and his good form in the friendlies against Liverpool and Melbourne Victory, are cause for optimism.
"The players dictate the way you play. Especially players who score goals, because they are extremely important for a team. You construct your team around them," concluded Ten Hag.
Although Ronaldo's future is undecided and he might well be moved on if the buyer and the fee are right, at the moment, his manager seems to view him as part of the team at the English club.
