Cristiano Ronaldo travelling back to UK to hold showdown talks with Man Utd with superstar wanting transfer exit
CRISTIANO RONALDO is travelling back to the UK today ahead of Manchester United showdown talks regarding his future.
The Portuguese forward failed to show up for the start of pre-season training and skipped the Red Devils’ tour of Thailand and Australia.
Now that Erik ten Hag and Co are back from Down Under, Ronaldo is jetting back to Manchester to try and sort out his future.
According to The Athletic, the 37-year-old will finally meet new boss Ten Hag face to face in the coming days.
Although it is not yet clear whether Ronaldo will be back in training with his team-mates.
The former Real Madrid and Juventus star wants to leave Old Trafford, having informed United of his intentions earlier this summer.
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The Red Devils have stuck to their guns, however, insisting that their No7 is NOT for sale throughout.
Club chiefs are pleased that Ronaldo is returning to the UK, and view it as a “positive sign”.
United stars were off today as they recover from their flight home from Australia – but are set to be back at Carrington tomorrow.
Speaking about the Ronaldo situation from Australia last week, Ten Hag said: “I am well informed, he also has also an option (of another year).
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“Yes (he could stay beyond this season), but to be honest, of course, I have signed here for three years, but in football it’s short-term as well.
“We have to win from the start. So I don’t look that far ahead.
“I have a strategy, it’s a process, it takes time but in the end, we have to make sure from the outset there is a winning team.”
Ronaldo was linked with Chelsea earlier this summer, with new Blues owner Todd Boehly meeting agent Jorge Mendes to discuss a potential transfer.
A move to Stamford Bridge was subsequently ruled out, however, with Thomas Tuchel uninterested in working with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Real Madrid have also pulled out of the running to re-sign their former star, although Ronaldo could return to the Spanish capital with Atletico.
Cristiano is important for us. He’s going through family issues, we hope everything is okay
Diogo Dalot
Diego Simeone would love to work with the Portuguese star, although Atleti would have to sell players to afford CR7’s astronomical £480,000 a week wages.
A portion of Atletico fans do NOT want Ronaldo, however, starting a campaign on social media asking their team to avoid signing their old rival.
Ronaldo has so far trained alone this summer, citing family issues.
Diogo Dalot has expressed optimism about his international team-mate returning to the fold.
The full-back said: “Cristiano is important for us. He’s going through family issues, we hope everything is okay.”
I don’t know what Cristiano said to the club
Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes has been non-comittal when discussing Ronaldo, however, saying last week: “I don’t want to be involved in that, obviously we have to respect the decision of everyone.
“I don’t know what Cristiano said to the club, to the manager, I don’t know what’s going into his head, but we have to respect his space.
“The only thing I asked Cristiano, when he didn’t turn up, was if everything was okay with the family.
“He told me what was going on, that’s it and nothing more.”
Ronaldo’s partner Georgina Rodriguez would reportedly favour a return to Spain, and Madrid in particular.
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It was in the Spanish capital that Georgina met Cristiano in 2016.
The 28-year-old was spotted in Madrid last week, attending a Rosalia concert at the city’s WiZink Center.