Italian newspaper La Repubblica have made the claim that Ronaldo is now seeking a way out of United ahead of next season. They state the forward doesn’t feel involved in Ten Hag’s efforts to revitalise a team that has been in a state of decline for several seasons now.
United’s failure to qualify for the Champions League next season is apparently another factor as Ronaldo enters the twilight of his illustrious career.
They will play in the Europa League during Ten Hag’s first campaign instead after finishing sixth in the Premier League.
La Repubblica say Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes is hunting for a new club for him and Roma, managed by Jose Mourinho, has emerged as a potential destination.
Mendes is on good terms with Roma – not only did he install Mourinho there but also goalkeeper Rui Patricio and central midfielder Sergio Oliveira.
However, there is the caveat that Roma will also be outside of the Champions League next season. They qualified instead for the Europa League.
A romantic return to his first club, Sporting Lisbon, is also reportedly as possibility. They did make next season’s Champions League after finishing second behind Porto in the Primeira Liga.
There was immense excitement when United signed Ronaldo from Juventus for an initial fee of £12.85million at the beginning of the season.
But his homecoming turned sour as United slumped from one debacle to another and never looked like competing for any silverware, making it five years without a trophy.
While Ronaldo’s goals earned him a place in the Premier League Team of the Year, United could only finish a disappointing sixth and exited the Champions League to Atletico Madrid at the last-16 stage.
With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer paying the price for some terrible form in November, United turned to Ralf Rangnick as an interim coach until the end of the season.
There was little improvement under the German coach, however.
They have now appointed former Ajax boss Ten Hag as their next permanent manager with the Dutchman starting a large squad overhaul this summer.
Though Ronaldo has a year left on his contract, plus the option of an additional one, this report suggests he could leave Old Trafford early.
Apex Football News 