Cristiano Ronaldo wants Manchester United to let him leave if a suitable offer is made for him this summer. Last summer, the Portuguese striker returned to Old Trafford from Juventus. While he was United’s top scorer last season – and third in the Premier League – the overall season was viewed as a major disappointment. United finished sixth in the Premier League and thus did not qualify for the Champions League. That means Ronaldo, who has a year left on his contract with United plus an option year, will be playing in the Europa League for the first time. It is not something he looks forward to, and the five-time Ballon d’Or winner believes there may be more appealing options available to him at this point in his career.
The former Real Madrid forward is quick to point out that he respects United, but as he nears the end of his career, he wants to compete for the biggest prizes. It is understood that United do not consider Ronaldo to be a player for sale. While losing one of United’s greatest players would be a blow to the club’s reputation, it would also solve a few problems for new manager Erik ten Hag. Last season, Ronaldo clashed with Harry Maguire for the captaincy, and interim manager Ralf Rangnick’s desire to implement a pressing game was thwarted by Ronaldo’s refusal to fit into such a
system. Although Ten Hag has stated that he is excited to work with Ronaldo, it is unclear how the forward’s playing style will mesh with the Dutchman. Furthermore, Ronaldo is the highest-paid player in the Premier League, and his departure would free up more space in United’s summer transfer budget. Ronaldo is set to return to the club for pre-season training this week. He is expected to join the team on their
pre-season tour to Thailand and Australia.
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