Transfer Centre

Sporting Lisbon rule out Cristiano Ronaldo return

By Ben Sully | 25 October 2022

Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim rules out a return for Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who is believed to be keen to leave the club.

Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim has ruled out a move for Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portugal international expressed a desire to leave Old Trafford in the summer in a bid to play Champions League football, but no transfer materialised.

Sporting were one of the clubs linked to their former academy product, but Ronaldo remained at United where he has only started two Premier League games this season.

Ronaldo was left out of Saturday's 1-1 draw against Chelsea after refusing to come on as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur, and although he has returned to training, the forward is still keen to leave the Red Devils.

Once again, Sporting were rumoured to be a potential destination, but Amorim has ruled out a return to the club Ronaldo left in 2003.

Amorim told reporters: "Ronaldo is a top player. He is a Manchester United player. Everybody in Sporting dreams of the return for Cristiano but we don't have the money to pay his wages.

"I think he is happy in Manchester but is not playing so that is the problem. But I have my problems so it is Ten Hag's problem! I am very happy with my players, no problem at all at the moment."

Although Ronaldo would prefer a move to a Champions League club, a recent report stated that Inter Miami, Los Angeles Galaxy and Los Angeles FC were interested in bringing him to the MLS.