By Ardfern - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia
While brwsing through twitter, I stumbled on this news and I wasnt surprised at all. I mean why wouldn't he want to leave the club?
Cristiano Ronaldo has told Manchester United that he wishes to go because he believes the team will fail to win the Premier League next season and he wishes to play in the Champions League.
Ronaldo expected United to be more ambitious at the start of Erik ten Hag's term as manager, and he is disappointed that the club has yet to make a deal. I really feel that United's problem is more than a coach.
United are still trying to persuade the 37-year-old to stay, not least through their efforts in the transfer market in the coming days and weeks.
As of now, Ronaldo has no intention of joining another club. His agent, Jorge Mendes who also happens to be the agent of other players like De Gea and Joao felix, has been looking at options for weeks, and has spoken to Chelsea and Bayern Munich among others. He will continue to explore for destinations for the Portugal international, but there are no advanced negotiations. Funny enough, I said it when Ronaldo was coming to United that he was going to leave the place without any improvements. I felt he should have gone to Mancity where he would have gotten atleast one or two titles.
Ronaldo, who scored 24 goals for United after returning to Old Trafford from Juventus last season, is under contract through the end of next season, with an option for another year.
Rumours has it that United are close to signing Dutch left-back Tyrell Malacia, who is set to fly to Manchester on Sunday for two days of medicals after a fee of €15 million (£12.9 million) plus €2 million in add-ons was agreed with Feyenoord, and are working on two much more expensive deals that they hope will persuade Ronaldo to stay. I think Ronaldo just wants to play the Champion's league. His calibre of players are not in the Europa league.
They have bid €41 million plus €4 million in add-ons for Ajax centre-back Lisandro Martnez, falling short of Ajax's valuation, and are still interested in Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong. Personally, I see Dejong to be another Van de Beek and he can't fill up the void of Pogba.
There is an agreement in principle with Barcelona to pay a guaranteed €65m and €20m in add-ons, but the format of the add-ons has not been resolved and personal conditions with the 25-year-old, who has not sought a move and had wanted to play in the Champions League next season, must be negotiated. Barcelona's president, Joan Laporta, said on Saturday that he had no intention of selling De Jong, but that he would ask the player to accept a wage cut.
Martnez wants to come to England, but United will have competition from Arsenal for the Argentina international. United's offer is higher than Arsenal's, but Ajax believes the 24-year-old is worth €50 million. Ten Hag is hoping that his three-season friendship with Martnez will work in his favor if a fee and personal arrangements are worked out.
Ronaldo's departure would be a blow to United, not just because he scored 14 more goals than any other player at the club last season - Bruno Fernandes was second - but also because this is the latest damning indicator of their downfall.
Ronaldo has competed in the Champions League every season since joining United in 2003, and he has won it five times, though not since 2018. Next season, Manchester United will compete in the Europa League as they failed to finish in the top 4..
In my own opinion, I feel Ronaldo should look for a way to leave the club to better club. Bayern Munich would have been a better spot but Lewandoski has monopolised the club.
Chelsea still remains the best option as they currently don't have a good striker.
Thank you for reading.
