The future of Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo remains unclear as the transfer saga surrounding the 37-year-old continues.
Ronaldo's homecoming to Old Trafford has not proved to be a fruitful move, while individually scoring 24 goals across all competitions, the collective produced their worst ever Premier League points tally.
As a result of missing out on a Champions League spot, Ronaldo has made it clear that he wants a move away, despite the club's public insistence that he will stay.
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The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is of the opinion that he still has a few years playing at the highest level and thus should be competing in the Champions League, a competition in which he leads in goals scored.
Ronaldo has not yet participated in a training session under Erik ten Hag's leadership as he seeks a transfer, and cites ‘personal reasons’ for his absence from United's pre-season tour.
However, not all of Ronaldo’s entourage believe that a move away is the best option for the Portuguese international, according to a report from the Spanish news outlet Marca.
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The report suggests that members of his team are encouraging him to stay at the club, emphasising that Manchester United is a great club and with his help, they can return to winning ways.
These pieces of advice are said to have come from people close to and influential to Ronaldo.
However, his agent and close friend Jorge Mendes, who is perhaps the most integral person to the striker when it comes to transfers, does not share that same opinion.
In any case, if Ronaldo decides he wants to push through with his desire to leave the club, he faces a problem that he never has before; no top clubs are moving mountains to sign him.
Bayern Munich and Chelsea had been touted as potential suitors, but neither club has shown keen interest, and thus nothing has materialised.
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Atletico Madrid are the most recent side to be linked, which appears strange on the surface given his acrimonious history with the club that dates back to his tenure at Real Madrid.
Whether Ronaldo would risk tarnishing his legacy at the Bernabeu is one thing, and whether Simeone could even fit him into his ultra defensive side is another, but the finances in this potential move remains the tallest of hurdles.
With the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Joao Felix and Alvaro Morata all currently on Atletico's books in the forward department, the La Liga club would find it difficult to pay Ronaldo’s desired salary without making at least two sales, according to the aforementioned report. However, it also added that the player's entourage has ensured that he's willing to lower his salary.
One report has suggested that the Spanish side have placed the French forward Griezmann on the transfer list, and offered the player to potential suitors - including PSG - last week. But the Ligue 1 champions are not interested in the deal.
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The majority of what has unfolded within this transfer saga indicates the feeling of inevitability that Ronaldo stays on at Old Trafford, for the remainder of his contract and possibly even beyond that.
But with less than two weeks remaining until the start of the 2022/23 Premier League season, the club are still unsure when and even if the 37-year-old will return to training.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Manchester United, Transfers, Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours, Erik Ten Hag, Cristiano Ronaldo, Atletico Madrid, Football, Premier League