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Cristiano Ronaldo ‘wants to leave Man United’ – Roma are competing with Sporting Lisbon to sign him, says an ambitious report in Italy… the striker is said to ‘not feel involved in Erik ten Hag’s project’
- Cristiano Ronaldo’s second spell at Manchester United could end prematurely
- According to reports in Italy, the 37-year-old doesn’t feel part of the United rebuild
- Erik ten Hag has joined the club as a new manager and will overhaul the squad
- Ronaldo is also put off by a lack of Champions League football
- The report links him with either a move to Roma or a return to Sporting Lisbon
- But it is highly unlikely that both Ronaldos could afford huge salaries
Cristiano Ronaldo ‘wants to leave Manchester United this summer’ because he reportedly doesn’t feel part of Erik ten Hag’s project at Old Trafford.
The 37-year-old Portuguese star scored 24 goals in the first season of his second stint at United but that will all change with the Dutch manager’s arrival this summer.
Italian newspaper La Repubblica has made the bold claim that Ronaldo is now looking for a way out of United before next season.
Cristiano Ronaldo will reportedly leave Manchester United ahead of the new season
The Portuguese striker apparently doesn’t feel involved in Erik ten Hag’s rebuild at United
They state that the forward does not feel involved in Ten Hag’s efforts to revive a team that has been in a state of decline for several seasons.
Roma and Sporting Lisbon are listed as potential targets but it’s unclear how either club could afford Ronaldo’s whopping £480,000-a-week salary even if they could bring him to the negotiating table.
United’s failure to qualify for the Champions League next season appears to be another factor as Ronaldo enters the twilight of his illustrious career.
They will instead play in the Europa League during Ten Hag’s first season after finishing sixth in the Premier League.
La Republica claim Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes is looking for a new club for him and Roma, managed by Jose Mourinho, have emerged as a potential target.
Mourinho and Ronaldo did not part well after three years together at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013.
Mendes has good relations with Roma – not only did he install Mourinho there, but also goalkeeper Rui Patricio and central midfielder Sergio Oliveira.
Ronaldo produced some memorable moments, scoring 24 times for United last season
History points to a Roma reunion between Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho, his former coach at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013
However, there is the caveat that Roma will also play outside of the Champions League next season. They instead qualified for the Europa League.
A romantic return to his first club, Sporting Lisbon, is also reportedly possible. They made it to the Champions League next season after finishing second to Porto in the Primeira Liga.
Excitement ran high when United signed Ronaldo from Juventus for an initial fee of £12.85million earlier in the season.
But his homecoming soured as United fell from one debacle to another and never looked like they would fight for silverware, making them five years without a trophy.
Jorge Mendes, Ronaldo’s agent, has good connections with the Italian club
The possibility of Ronaldo’s romantic return to his first club, Sporting Lisbon, has arisen
While Ronaldo’s goals earned him a place in the Premier League Team of the Year, United could only finish a disappointing sixth place and exited the Champions League in the Round of 16 against Atletico Madrid.
After Ole Gunnar Solskjaer paid the price for a terrible form in November, United turned to Ralf Rangnick as caretaker manager until the end of the season.
However, there was little improvement under the German coach.
They have now appointed former Ajax manager Ten Hag as their next permanent coach, with the Dutchman beginning a major squad overhaul this summer.
Despite Ronaldo having one year left on contract plus the option for another, this report suggests he could leave Old Trafford early.
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