Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has declared that despite Ronaldo wanting out of the club, the player is not leaving.
Manchester United will be playing in the Europa League this season, and as unpalatable as it is to their fans, it is what it is. The Red Devils were lucky to sneak into the second-tier European competition ahead of West Ham, who looked sure to make it after dropping from the top four places.
One man who is unhappy at the turn of events is Cristiano Ronaldo. The Europa League is one competition he has never played in, and the Portuguese international does not want to find out how it feels playing in the competition.
Ronaldo has informed Manchester United to let him go if a serious bid comes for him. The decision does not sit well with United, and they have refused to acknowledge that the Portuguese is for sale. United have placed a not-for-sale sign on the prized asset – a decision that new manager Erik Ten Hag shares.
Cristiano Ronaldo is not for sale
Each time Ronaldo feels it’s time to move on, he usually gets his way. The Portuguese international is not impressed by the current situation at Manchester United and has made no pretence about what he wants. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner hopes to join a club playing in the Champions League.
Just as Ronaldo has made his feelings public, new Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has also cleared the air on his stand with the forward. The Dutchman spoke about the uncertainties surrounding the future of the United forward.
With questions hovering over his immediate future at the Theatre of Dreams, Ten Hag was unequivocal about his position on the forward. According to Ten Hag, Ronaldo is going nowhere. The new United manager says CR7 is part of his plans for the upcoming season. He added that the Portugal international was not for sale and vital to the successes the club aims to achieve next season.
With no Champions League on the table, how will United convince Ronaldo to sign up with the current project?
A glorious past and a questionable future
At 37, Ronaldo is no longer interested in building. The former Real Madrid legend is keen to add to his legendary status, and the Europa League will not serve that purpose. The UEFA Champions League all-time topscorer wants the opportunity to increase his goal tally and trophy haul, and United are not in a position to offer that currently.
Ronaldo has continued to prove he is one of the best players in the game. He returned to Old Trafford amid fanfare, and he did not disappoint. The Portugal international was the only bright spark in a rather dour team. He is why United had anything positive to talk about, as he scored 24 goals last season, as the club’s top scorer.
Another season with Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay must be bitter to Ronaldo, who has played with players like Casemiro, Luka Modric, Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso, Karim Benzema and Marcelo. The quality at United is unimpressive, and Ronaldo fancies his chances elsewhere.
Despite Ten Hag claiming Ronaldo is not for sale, the truth remains that the Portuguese forward wants to leave. Man United would be better off to let any player whose commitment to the cause is not a hundred per cent.
