Cristiano Ronaldo is looking to leave Manchester United this summer as he fears he won’t be able to fight for the club’s biggest trophies.
The 37-year-old feels the urge to win even more in the twilight of his career but feels it may not be possible at Old Trafford next season. The 2021/22 season was the fifth consecutive United failed to win a trophy.
Ronaldo is also said to be concerned that United are yet to make any improvements to the squad in the current transfer window. Thirteen players have left the club this summer, but none have arrived yet.
Ronaldo has great respect for United – especially the fans – and is said to be “in love” with the club, but next season will be the first of his career that he won’t play in the Champions League if he stays at Old Trafford.
The Portugal international has never played in the Europa League – which United will play in next season – and most recently played at Sporting Lisbon in the 2002/03 UEFA Cup.
But while Ronaldo is keen to leave, United don’t want him to go and are working to attract players for new manager Erik ten Hag.
They are close to a deal for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and Feyenoord left-back Tyrell Malacia, while also looking to sign Ajax centre-back Lisandro Martinez.
Ronaldo signed for United last August in a deal worth just under £20m from Juventus and has scored 24 goals in 38 games, but he sometimes looked frustrated as the team faltered and finished sixth under Ole Gunnar Solksjaer and then Ralf Rangnick.
Sky sports news has reached out to Manchester United for comment.
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Ten Hag wants contract signings before July 8th
Erik ten Hag ideally wants the bulk of United’s transfer deal to be completed before the squad fly out on their pre-season tour on July 8.
The club have reached a fundamental agreement for Barcelona frenkie dejong, while a deal for Feyenoord left-back Tyrell Malacia expected to be completed soon.
United are keenly interested in Arsenal’s goal Lisandro Martinez and have reviewed the situation with due diligence while Christian Ericsen decides whether to accept an offer from United or stay at Brentford. There are also other proposals on the table which the former Tottenham midfielder ‘remains open to’.
Ten Hag’s new side are in talks with his old club Ajax over the striker Anthonybut the Dutch champions have hinted they are expecting a defender Jurrien wood to stay in Amsterdam. United had the centre-back, who can also operate as a right-back, on a shortlist of defensive targets.
John Murtough, United’s director of football, oversees the team’s transfer business, assisted by Steve Brown, head of recruitment. Tom Keane, a lawyer and brother of former United defender Michael Keane, was brought in on an advisory basis to help hammer out deals.
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