Ten Hag insists Ronaldo is not for sale despite transfer request

Posted Tuesday, July 12, 2022 by Dailystar.co.uk

Cristiano Ronaldo rocked Manchester United last month after handing in a transfer request, but new manager Erik ten Hag insists the Portugal superstar isn't for sale

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag insists Cristiano Ronaldo won't be leaving the club this summer despite the 37-year-old handing in a transfer request.

The Red Devils flew out to Bangkok over the weekend for the start of their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia, with Ronaldo a notable absentee after suspiciously being granted indefinite leave for 'family reasons'.

Speaking during his first pre-season press conference on Monday, Ten Hag said Ronaldo was in his plans for next season and maintained that he was looking forward to working with the Portugal international.

"We are planning for Cristiano Ronaldo for the season and that's it. I'm looking forward to working with him," the Dutchman told reporters. "Cristiano is not for sale. He is in our plans and we want success together."

The pair spoke on the phone after Ten Hag was confirmed as United's new manager back in April but there's been no contact between them since Ronaldo informed the club of his desire to leave in June.

"I spoke with him before this issue came up," Ten Hag added. "I had a conversation with him and I had a good talk. That is between Cristiano and me. What I can confirm is we had a really good conversation together. I didn't speak to him after (the news)."

It's thought that Ronaldo's itchy feet came about due to United's failure to qualify for the Champions League last season, though some reports claim the former Real Madrid and Juventus man has been looking for a way out of Old Trafford since January.

He wants to spend the final years of his career playing at the top level, though the trouble is, there don't appear to be many top level teams interested in him. Chelsea, Bayern and PSG were understood to be monitoring the situation, but interest from all three parties has since cooled.

Elsewhere, Napoli, Roma and Ronaldo's boyhood club Sporting Lisbon have been sniffing round, but the five-time Ballon d'Or winner would have to take an astronomical pay-cut to join any of them.

Perhaps Ten Hag is right - Ronaldo isn't going anywhere … though not necessarily because United want to keep him.