Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Manchester United was thrown into doubt earlier this weekend when it emerged that he had asked the club to accept any suitable offers made for him this summer.
The 37-year-old scored 24 goals in all competitions last season and was named in the PFA Team of the Year but now has plans to leave the club after just one season back.
Ronaldo is the only senior out-and-out forward at the club and has also been touted as a possible candidate for the captaincy at the club, with current skipper Harry Maguire under scrutiny.
Despite his desire to play in the Champions League, it’s now being reported that no offers have been made for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
That’s according to The Telegraph, who add that Manchester United are ready to play hardball over his future, insisting that they want and expect him to remain at the club despite the latest developments.
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Ronaldo is due back at Carrington on Monday as he, and the rest of United’s international players, return for pre-season. Subsequently, he is expected to be on the plane to Thailand on Friday. As per the report, United expect Ronaldo to fulfill the second year of his contract.
Erik ten Hag, who has thus far made plans with Ronaldo as the focal point, will meet with Ronaldo on Monday and the outcome of the talks will have some bearing on the forward’s future.
SN’s verdict…
With wholesale changes across the entire team, having to replace your top scorer would be disastrous for Ten Hag. Additionally, it does not seem like any groundwork has been made to recruit a striker.
There was interest in Darwin Nunez but Benfica’s high asking price cleared the way for Liverpool to swoop in, with United expecting Ronaldo to lead the line.
With that looking increasingly unlikely with each passing day, United must now press ahead with plans to find a forward regardless of whether Ronaldo stays at the club.