Manchester United's Dutch manager Erik ten Hag (L) directs substitute Manchester United's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Manchester United at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England on August 27, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United future is still up in the air with the transfer window just three days away from shutting.
It has been reported all summer long that Ronaldo wants to leave Manchester United to secure Champions League football, which is something we missed out on after finishing in sixth-place last season.
The problem Ronaldo and his agent, Jorge Mendes, are facing this summer is that offers are not plentiful for the 37-year-old. One club he has been linked to is Serie A outfit Napoli.
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According to CBS’ Ben Jacobs, Napoli and United have downplayed speculation and Ronaldo isn’t fully sold on the move despite it giving him the opportunity to compete in the Champions League.
Maybe – after all that has been reported – Ronaldo’s future move is not dependent on Champions League football.
Maybe Ronaldo wants to go somewhere he is guaranteed to be playing every week. That is not going to happen under Erik ten Hag and I’m certainly warming to the idea after seeing United win back-to-back matches in the Premier League.
I wonder whether it’s a matter of Ronaldo not being keen on Napoli or the other way around?
Moreover, we’ll miss Ronaldo’s goals but not his overall impact on the team. His behaviour over the summer should be criticised.