Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Manchester United remained shrouded in uncertainty after the Portugal great returned to the club’s training ground with his agent on Tuesday.
Ronaldo has yet to start pre-season training with United — he missed the team’s tour of Thailand and Australia — and was reportedly holding talks with recently hired manager Erik ten Hag.
There was no update from United about Ronaldo’s current status at the club following his arrival with his agent, Jorge Mendes, at the Carrington training base.
Alex Ferguson, the former United manager who signed Ronaldo for the player’s first spell at the club from 2003-09, arrived at Carrington earlier on Tuesday. Ferguson played an influential role in persuading Ronaldo to return to United last year.
The new Premier League season begins in less than two weeks, with United opening at home to Brighton on August 7.
United introduced Christian Eriksen as one of its summer signings, with the Denmark playmaker arriving on a free transfer. He said Ten Hag helped persuade him to make the move after spending the second half of last season at Brentford.
“Obviously to speak with the manager and hear his ideas and have conversations with him on the football terms was great and ideal for me to get the decision and the possibility of coming to Manchester United,” Eriksen said.
Could Ten Hag have the same effect on Ronaldo?
The 37-year-old Ronaldo reportedly wants to play for another team after only one year back at Old Trafford, with United not in the Champions League this season. United finished in sixth place in the league last season, 35 points behind champions Manchester City.
United have said Ronaldo has not returned to training yet because of “personal reasons.” Ten Hag has repeatedly said he is counting on Ronaldo being part of the squad this season.
If United do allow Ronaldo to join another club, it leaves Ten Hag short of strikers with little more than a month left in Europe’s summer transfer window to bring in a replacement.
In Ronaldo’s absence, Anthony Martial has been playing up front and impressed on the pre-season tour, scoring three goals in four games.
Martial spent the second half of last season on loan at Sevilla, scoring one goal, so it could represent an unlikely second chance for the French striker.
Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani left during the summer after his contract expired.
Knoxy
Roar Rookie
I wonder what would happen if Ronaldo was willing to take a massive pay cut? Surely it would open up options for him to play at other clubs. I mean, it's not like he needs the extra cash.
Joshua Makepeace
Roar Rookie
High price tag??? An initial £13million for one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Ronaldo came with a very high price tag, so they would have better off without him since they didnt make the champions league. If another team wont take him on a free that indicates his wages are more than he is worth.
Joshua Makepeace
Roar Rookie
After a season-long debate if Ronaldo is beneficial to Man U I have finally decided that he is, just. United would have been a lot worse off their already terrible position without his goals that he undoubtedly brings. However, I do see your point Brainstrust about how he puts himself as a higher importantce than the team.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The simple truth is no one wants to pay Ronaldos wages they are stuck with him, they are paying top dollar for a lazy prima donna, he might be in great physical shape at his age but he puts himself above the team and expects others to do all the pressing. Its like one of the celebrity actors in hollywood they might work out at the gym each day but they cant even pick up their clothes off the floor, they have a maid to do that. Its not that they cant do it, its they have an entitlement syndrome, but in the case of Ronaldo he does it on the field in front of everyone, where hollywood actors will do anything on screen that a director tells them unlike Ronaldo with his coach. Its not just celebrities, a lot of men have this problem go to the gym but cant do the house work.