Transfer Centre

Erik ten Hag 'changing his mind over Cristiano Ronaldo future'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 15 August 2022

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag is open to letting Cristiano Ronaldo leave the club before the end of the transfer window, according to a report.

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag is reportedly changing his mind over Cristiano Ronaldo's future, with the Dutchman now open to letting the experienced forward leave this summer.

The Portugal international is believed to have told the Red Devils at the start of July that he is determined to leave in the current window to continue playing Champions League football in 2022-23.

Man United and Ten Hag have maintained that Ronaldo will not be leaving this summer despite the 37-year-old's desire to switch clubs.

However, according to The Athletic, the club's head coach has now had a change of heart and is open to letting the Portuguese depart before the end of the transfer window.

The report claims that the striker sometimes sits by himself during lunch at the club's training ground, and he has also shown his frustration during a number of training sessions.

A downbeat Cristiano Ronaldo on August 13, 2022 © Reuters

Ronaldo missed Man United's pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia in July due to a personal issue, but he returned to Carrington late last month and has now been involved in their opening two matches of the 2022-23 Premier League season against Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford.

The forward played the full 90 minutes of Saturday's 4-0 defeat to Brentford but refused to applaud the club's supporters at the end of the contest and also did not shake Ten Hag's hand.

On Sunday afternoon, Sky Sports News reported that Man United were considering terminating Ronaldo's contract due to his recent behaviour.

However, Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst claimed that Man United had denied the rumours surrounding a potential termination.

Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain were among the clubs to be linked with the Portuguese earlier this summer, but the trio have ruled themselves out of the running.

Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo pictured on July 31, 2022 © Reuters

AC Milan and Inter Milan have also allegedly turned down the opportunity to sign the former Sporting Lisbon youngster this summer.

Atletico Madrid's interest has also seemingly cooled, so there is not currently an obvious suitor for the attacker, who could be forced to remain at Old Trafford.

Man United are planning to sign a new forward before the end of the transfer window, with Espanyol's Raul de Tomas, Paris Saint-Germain's Mauro Icardi and Atletico Madrid's Alvaro Morata said to be targets.

Ronaldo scored 24 goals and registered three assists in 37 appearances for the Red Devils last season, having returned to the club in the latter stages of the transfer window from Juventus.

The 20-time English champions will be bidding to avoid a third successive Premier League defeat at the start of the new season when they welcome Liverpool to Old Trafford on August 22.