Cristiano Ronaldo may have helped Man Utd sign Wout Weghorst as Besiktas stance revealed

Ex-Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo may have indirectly helped his former club to the signing of Wout Weghorst through his move to Al Nassr.

Ronaldo joined the Saudi Pro League club at the beginning of January, becoming the highest-paid player in world football in the process.

According to journalist Pedro Sepulveda (via Tribal Football), over three billion people on 40 channels around the world watched Ronaldo's unveiling - reportedly more than who would have watched the World Cup final across the same channels.

The Portugal legend is currently serving a ban handed down to him by the FA whilst still a United player earlier this year, meaning he has not yet made his Al Nassr debut.

That will likely happen on January 19, when Ronaldo and Al Nassr take on Lionel Messi and PSG in a dream exhibition match.

United, meanwhile, have been searching for his replacement in the January transfer window. And, despite the complexities of a move for Burnley striker Wout Weghorst, given he is currently on loan at Besiktas with no break clause, the Red Devils have been pressing ahead to seal a deal.

Fabrizio Romano reported on Tuesday that United have reached a verbal agreement to bring the Dutchman to Old Trafford on loan until the end of the season, for a fee of €3 million.

This is, however, dependent on Besiktas finding a replacement - and Ronaldo's signing appears to have helped that process.

Besiktas search for Weghorst replacement ahead of United move

The Turkish giants are reportedly interested in signing free agent striker Vincent Aboubakar as Weghorst's successor.

The 30-year-old Cameroon international played at the World Cup in Qatar, and has also enjoyed spells at Porto, Lorient and one previous spell at Besiktas.

But he was most recently on the books at Al Nassr, and allegedly indicated his desire to leave the club to join a side in Europe.

Al Nassr reportedly agreed to release him from his contract, according to RMC Sport, to help them comply with their maximum foreign player limit in order to register Ronaldo.

If Aboubakar does join Besiktas for a second permanent spell, it would pave the way for United to sign Weghorst from Burnley and bolster their attacking options for the remainder of the season.