Reports in Italy suggest Cristiano Ronaldo has been offered to Napoli.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Manchester United has been up in the air this summer and he only returned to Carrington this week after missing the pre-season tour in Thailand and Australia.
According to Ansa Calcio Sport, Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes has made a formal proposal to Napoli.
It was believed that the 37-year-old wants to play in the Champions League next season, which is something he won’t be able to do at Old Trafford since United failed to qualify.
That means we’ll be in the Europa League, Europe’s second-rate competition, and I suspect Erik ten Hag may look to win that as a route back into the Champions League. However, it remains to be seen if Ronaldo will be part of that Europa League squad. He scored 24 goals in his homecoming season and Ten Hag may need to find those goals from elsewhere next term.
A return to Italy could be on the cards but it is worth noting that Jacque Talbot wrote a report three weeks ago, as per Football Transfers, claiming Napoli have played down the possibility of a deal for Ronaldo.
“Napoli believe they won’t win the race to sign Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, after the Portuguese announced his desire to leave Manchester United. FootballTransfers has been informed that Napoli feels that there is zero chance of nabbing the United attacker in this window.”
Ronaldo’s professionalism will be tested in the coming weeks although, when players ask to leave clubs, they usually get their wish.
While United are sticking to their guns on their Ronaldo stance – stressing that the player is not for sale – there is a chance Ten Hag won’t want Ronaldo around for the upcoming season if he is going to be a negative influence on the rest of the team.
Especially he is he demanding the players to work hard and fight for one another on the pitch.
