Cristiano Ronaldo has instructed his agent Jorge Mendes to hold talks with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez over a possible return to the Bernabeu, according to reports in Spain.
Ronaldo is said to be considering leaving Manchester United after a frustrating start to his second spell at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo has scored 14 goals in 23 appearances since returning to United from Juventus in the summer.
However, United have struggled for results since the Portugal international rejoined and are now 19 points behind rivals Manchester City in the Premier League table.
Ralf Rangnick’s side are currently fourth in the league and locked in a desperate battle for the final Champions League place, with West Ham, Arsenal, Tottenham and Wolves all within four points of the Red Devils.
According to Catalan newspaper El Nacional, Ronaldo will seek to leave United if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.
The report claims Ronaldo has already instructed Mendes to begin negotiations with other clubs over a possible summer move.
Lionel Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain are one of the sides that have been linked with Ronaldo, as has his former club Real Madrid.
Ronaldo joined Madrid from United in 2009 for a then world record fee of £80m, and he would go on to become the most prolific goal scorer in the club’s history - scoring 450 times in 438 appearances.
He would win an incredible four Champions League trophies and La Liga twice during his time at the Bernabeu before leaving for Juventus in 2018.
El Nacional claimed Ronaldo 'misses his days in the capital of Spain' and Mendes has proposed a possible return to club president Perez.
Ronaldo has expressed his frustration with United’s results this season and has criticised the mentality of his team-mates at Old Trafford.
In an explosive interview with Sky Sports, Ronaldo said: "Since [Rangnick] arrived, I think in some ways we are better, but he needs time, it's not that easy to change the mentality of players, the way they play, the system and the culture like that.
"So I believe he's going to do a good job.
"The system is useful, but not if the mentality is not there in the pitch. This is why I say we have a long way to improve because, for me, the most important thing is for you to look at yourself and say: 'I can do better. I can help the team much more.'
"The system, yes, it's important, details make the huge difference at the end of the day but, for me, the most important thing is the mentality, for you to be strong, to help the team, the right mentality, self-taught positives."
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Jorge Mendes, Florentino Perez, Football, Transfers, La Liga, Premier League
Rory O'Callaghan