After a summer of rumours Cristiano Ronaldo now looks set to stay at Manchester United

Cristiano Ronaldo is now expected to stay at Manchester United this season, according to reports, after neither Napoli or Sporting tabled bids for him.

It has been the summer's longest and most arduous transfer saga, and that's saying something considering Frenkie de Jong's story, but it is nearly over.

With just a few days left until the transfer window slams shut, the only way it can be closed on Sky Sports News of course, Ronaldo has still not bagged himself a move away from United.

Lord knows how much he's wanted it, especially after the club 'forced' him to stick to a clause in his contract he agreed to just a year ago, but there's been little to no interest.

The 37-year-old striker did turn down one move to Saudi Arabia, due to his desire to carry on playing in the Champions League, but no one else has really come forward.

Most recently the forward has been linked to both Napoli and a return to boyhood club Sporting but, according to Italian journalist Carlo Laudisa in Gazzetta dello Sport, Ronaldo is now set to stay put in Manchester.

Ronaldo could have to get used to sitting on the bench this season. Image: Alamy

The links with Napoli included the possibility of Nigerian striker Victor Omnishen from swapping places with the former Real Madrid star.

That would have also meant the Premier League side paying around £100 million to sign the forward, but with them already paying a huge sum for Antony in the very near future that always looked unlikely.

There was talk of him going back to Sporting, not for the first time with his own mum even telling him to go back before his return to United a year ago.

However, according to the Times, the Portuguese club's manager Ruben Amorim threatened to quit over the possibility of the club signing him back.

Ronaldo began his professional career with Sporting (Image: Alamy)

Should he still be at United on Friday, after the deadline late the day before, then things could be very awkward for the former Juventus striker and his teammates.

According to one report, his colleagues have become fed up with him and another claimed that they were full of 'joy' when he handed in his transfer request, claiming they think he's a 'pain in the a**e.'

From his point of view though, not everything he's read in the press has been true and he's ready to point out all the incorrect headlines he's seen about himself.

One way or another, the next few days should be very interesting where Ronaldo and United are concerned.

Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United, Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours, Premier League, Transfers

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a journalist for SPORTbible with over eight years of experience. Passionate about all sports, he mainly covers football and F1 - Daniel Ricciardo once spent an entire interview referring to him as 'Ryan Gosling,' still his proudest moment.

@Sidler28