London: Cristiano Ronaldo’s future is in doubt after his attempt to force his way out of Manchester United’s Old Trafford did not result in the anticipated rush to sign him.
The Portuguese superstar stunned United earlier this month when he made a startling request to leave the club after the team missed out on Champions League qualification.
Cristiano would have expected a plethora of elite clubs to compete for his signature.
But due to Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain all appearing to have turned their backs on the forward, for the first time in his glittering career he is no longer a must-have item for Europe’s wealthy elite.Ronaldo
The 37-year-old Ronaldo is in a precarious situation due to worries about his waning productivity and his infamously demanding nature.
Todd Boehly, a co-owner of Chelsea, is said to have discussed a deal to usher in the new era at Stamford Bridge with Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes.
But after acquiring Raheem Sterling from Manchester City, Blues manager Thomas Tuchel is rumoured to be concerned about attempting to include Ronaldo in his plans for a flexible front three.
When asked about Cristiano, Tuchel responded, “We focused on our top target Raheem Sterling, who we signed, and everything else stays behind closed doors.
Ronaldo could have joined Bayern if Robert Lewandowski had been sold to Barcelona, but Oliver Kahn, the CEO of the German champions, shot down that plan.
Even though I consider Cristiano Ronaldo to be one of the best, he wouldn’t fit in with our philosophy if he transferred, he said.
“I adore Cristia, and everyone is aware of his brilliance. But every club has a unique philosophy, so I’m not sure if signing him now would be the best move for Bayern and the Bundesliga.”
Erik ten Hag, manager of United, has reiterated the club’s official stance that Cristiano Ronaldo is “not for sale.”Cristiano
Despite the fact that Ronaldo was United’s leading scorer last season, there is a growing belief in Manchester that Ten Hag’s ability to assemble a team more in line with the Ajax style may be enhanced by his departure.
On a preseason tour of Asia and Australia without Ronaldo, United has thrived, scoring 11 goals in victories over Liverpool, Melbourne Victory, and Crystal Palace.
Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial, and Marcus Rashford have proven their mettle as a dynamic front three.Cristiano
All three of those players had a difficult season last year as a result of Ronaldo’s style change for a United team that had placed second in the Premier League the year before.
Despite his goal-scoring record of 101 goals in 134 games, Ronaldo’s time at Juventus also coincided with a decline in European results for the Italian powerhouses.
Few clubs are interested in signing the ageing five-time Ballon d’Or winner after seeing two European powerhouses struggle to accommodate him.
Ronaldo’s legendary status at United, which was cemented in his trophy-laden first stint with the club, has also begun to fade.
“His arrival was sprung on United at the eleventh hour, and the team that had finished third and second had to rip up their tactics and start over,” said Andy Mitten, journalist and editor of the fanzine United We Stand.Cristiano
There are many fans who would agree that they do not see Ronaldo as United’s future.
Manchester City, who beat out United’s rivals to sign Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund, and Liverpool, who paid a price that could reach 100 million euros ($102 million) for Darwin Nunez from Benfica, both chose to sign younger forwards just entering their prime.
Given Karim Benzema’s outstanding performances in Real Madrid’s Champions League and La Liga-winning campaign last season, a return to the club where Ronaldo played from 2009 to 2018 seems unlikely.Cristiano
Even PSG, a team known for collecting football’s biggest names, appears to be out of the running.
Ronaldo still has the option of joining Real’s rivals Atletico Madrid, but with his options dwindling, he might have to swallow his pride and remain at Old Trafford.
One final payday in the United States or Saudi Arabia could serve as undeniable proof of Ronaldo’s decline if that is too much for his ego to handle.
Back flash Of Cristiano Ronaldo
In an effort to control the fallout from the Portugal star’s power play, Erik ten Hag is scrambling after Cristiano Ronaldo’s shocking demand that he be allowed to leave Manchester United upsets his plans.
Ronaldo has already become so disenchanted with United just one year after making a splashy return from Juventus that he is attempting to leave Old Trafford.
The 37-year-old is said to have informed United that he wants to be sold, and Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes is said to have spoken with Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Napoli as he looks for a team that can meet Ronaldo’s goals.Cristiano
Ronaldo became increasingly irritated as the season wore on, during which United had three different managers and an unimpressive sixth-place Premier League finish.
Ronaldo led United in scoring with 24 goals across all competitions, but his team finished the year without a trophy and missed out on the Champions League.
A five-time Ballon d’Or winner who has won the Champions League trophy five times finds the idea of competing in the Europa League to be hardly appealing.
Ronaldo has one year left on his contract, and United insist that they won’t be selling the former Real Madrid forward.Cristiano
Ten Hag had expressed enthusiasm for the idea of working with Ronaldo, but he may need to prepare for a future without his most accomplished player.
On Friday, United is scheduled to take off for Thailand as part of their tour of Asia and Australia.
Ronaldo’s second stint at United may come to an abrupt end if he skips the trip, it would seem.
Todd Boehly, Chelsea’s new co-owner, is rumored to be intrigued by the prospect of Ronaldo ushering in a new era at Stamford Bridge.
After Ronaldo’s turbulent first season back in Manchester, it is unclear whether Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel would be as receptive to the switch.
Although Ronaldo’s finishing ability is still unmatched, he rarely displayed signs of wanting to participate in the fast-paced pressing game that interim manager Ralf Rangnick hoped to use.
Rangnick reportedly instructed United football director John Murtough to sell Ronaldo during the January transfer window due to the player’s poor mobility and questionable work ethic.
Ronaldo remained a melancholy presence at the club for the remainder of the season after his request was denied.
After being replaced in a game at Brentford, he publicly disagreed with Rangnick, and there have been rumours of tension between the star and United captain Harry Maguire.
Ten Hag is probably aware of how difficult it can be to live with Ronaldo, and he may even be considering whether it would be better for him to be free of the star’s distractions.
United is currently miles behind Manchester City and Liverpool, and for Ten Hag to turn them into serious contenders for the first English title since 2013, he must purge a team that became toxic last season.
The polarising The departure of Paul Pogba was a positive development, and Ten Hag is eager to add several new players to the squad in the upcoming days.
Christian Eriksen of Denmark is reported to have signed a three-year deal, and Feyenoord left-back Tyrell Malacia is reportedly close to doing the same.
Frenkie De Jong of Barcelona and Lisandro Martinez of Ajax are two other players that Ten Hag is interested in.
Those deals would be encouraging, but Ten Hag must also solve the Ronaldo conundrum to prevent a volatile situation from getting out of hand.
