Manchester United’s poor season saw them fail to qualify for the Champions League and there was immediate speculation that Cristiano Ronaldo would leave, as it is his favourite tournament and not competing at the highest level has the Portuguese considering staying at his beloved club.
The club will compete in the Europa League, but it is not as attractive for the historic striker. It was said that the player decided to stay to help the Red Devils, who want to return to the highest level. Manager Erik Ten Hag spoke to the player and seemed to have convinced him, but in recent hours, his agent has held talks with other clubs interested in the Champions League top scorer.
In any case, Manchester United will be completely revamped. The Dutch coach is already training with the team and the first impressions are quite good. It is not a bad idea to enter Ekbet to bet on them or your favourite team safely and with the highest odds.
CR’s return was not ideal
Last season, the return of one of the best players in Manchester United’s history was announced after a few seasons at Juventus. The English side’s fans went wild, and just the fact that they had the Portuguese in their ranks made them favourites for the title.
The team was a disaster, nothing worked. Three coaches during the tournament, and were missing incredible results. Cristiano was the team’s most consistent player, but neither his last-minute goals nor his performances worthy of a world-class player could salvage points.
The Portuguese was frustrated and angry. Every day they were dropping down the table and were eliminated from the Champions League. The team was no longer fighting for anything, and that is unacceptable for Cristiano Ronaldo.
One of the first things the Portuguese asked of his teammates when he arrived at the team was to win trophies. To compete for everything and that he didn’t want to end the season with a blank sheet. That is exactly what happened. Manchester United failed to lift any trophies.
The only goal that remained was not to be knocked out of European competitions, especially the Champions League. But three wins in their last 10 games of the season condemned them to sixth place in the Premier League. The Red Devils will play in the Europa League.
The team is not working in any line. The only player who is 100% is Cristiano. Obviously, a new coach was sought because no one could find a way for the team. Erik Ten Hag, who rebuilt Ajax, was trusted and is expected to do the same for Old Trafford.
Is he leaving or staying?
What is needed in Manchester is a complete restructuring, and they are already close to signing Frenkie de Jong, who will fill the place left by Paul Pogba in midfield. The Dutch coach had a hard time convincing him because he didn’t want to leave Barcelona.
His idea is to team him up with Donny van de Beek to replicate that invincible Ajax midfield that stunned the world. Obviously, the plan is for these reinforcements to back up Bruno Fernandes who, with a good team, can be decisive, and Cristiano who, if he has the option to get the ball, can take the Red Devils to the top of the table.
The point is that a complete renovation can take several years, and what Cristiano no longer has is time. The striker is 37 years old and although physically he is impeccable and said he would play until he can no longer play. It may take United several years to get back into Champions League contention.
City neighbours Manchester City have just bought Erling Haaland and have a young team that is likely to be at the top for many years to come. Liverpool let Sadio Mané go but brought in the young Uruguayan Darwin Nunez, who promises many goals for many years to come. It is going to be difficult to reach that level immediately.
It has been reported that the Portuguese player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, is in talks with teams that play in the Champions League so that Cristiano can compete for the trophy in the final years of his career in Europe.
The interested parties
The first and most important offer comes from Chelsea. The Blues are in talks with the striker’s entourage to bring him to Stamford Bridge. This operation seems to be complicated because he is a direct rival and Manchester would not let him go so easily. They even said that Ronaldo is not leaving Old Trafford.
Besides, the London team is also on the lookout for Neymar. The departure of Romelu Lukaku opened up a space up front, the problem with Cristiano’s arrival is his salary, he is one of the highest wages in the Premier League and that would put Chelsea very close to violating the Financial Fair Play.
Another team that was speculated to have asked for the striker was PSG. This option is very complicated, but it makes all football fans dream, as it would bring together the two best players of this generation. Messi and Cristiano.
The operation is difficult because bringing CR7 to France would imply a very strong investment, and they would have to let go of several important players to make room for the Portuguese. The Parisian team is not willing to make such a complicated and costly transaction.
Besides, the striker would not like to share the spotlight with Mbappé and Messi. Surely they would make a front line that we can only put together on PlayStation, but in the real world, it seems almost impossible because of the financial risk.
Bayern Munich also approached the agent, but the age of the striker does not convince them so much, and they decided to go for Sadio Mané, who at the moment is one of the best in the world. In Germany, they do not doubt Ronaldo’s ability, but they know that he cannot offer many more years, and it is customary in the Teutonic team not to pay such high salaries.
One option that has always been latent is the MLS. The American league wants the Portuguese, but the player himself dismissed this possible destination because he wants to continue competing at the highest level. The MLS can wait for the last years of his career.
For the moment, the possibilities are complicated. Ronaldo does not want to go through a new adaptation period because the World Cup is approaching, and it is his last chance to make history with Portugal, so staying at Old Trafford seems the simplest and most logical option.
The transfer market is unpredictable and anything can happen. Will Cristiano leave?
