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JUST IN: Finally, there is a shocker on Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer
The future of Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford has been up to debate in recent times after the 37-year-old was reported to have approached United hierarchy earlier this month with the request to leave the Theatre of Dreams.
Though it has been reported that United have turned down the former Real Madrid attacker’s request as they remained adamant that their prized asset.
The above has given birth to United’s new manager’s optimism. When the former Ajax boss was asked for his take on the situation, Erik ten Hag wasted no time explaining that he is planning to work with Ronaldo throughout the 2022-23 season and while going ahead to claim that the Portuguese could even extend his stay at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo had secured a sensational return to Old Trafford last summer and had largely impressed during the 2021-22 season, scoring 24 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions.
And while many have speculated on the likely destination of the five-time Ballon d’Or Award winner, a renowned Arsenal fan Piers Morgan who claimed to have had ‘quite a lot of contact’ with Ronaldo in recent days had submitted that the Portugal legend has already ‘mentally left’ Old Trafford
For Morgan, Ronaldo has already played his last game for United and he could end up at a ‘surprising’ club.
For Morgan, Ronaldo has already played his last game for United and could end up at a ‘surprising’ club
Speaking to talkSPORT, Morgan maintained ‘I have had quite a lot of contact with him in the last week,’…. ‘I certainly think it’d be highly unlikely if Cristiano Ronaldo plays another game for Manchester United.
‘I just think mentally he’s moved on. I’m not going to say what we’ve said to each other but like I said from the start I don’t think Cristiano feels Manchester United share his ambitions.
‘I think he feels that the signings they’re making, the commitment they showed last season, where they finished up and a lack of Champions League football…
‘If you’re him and coming towards the end of your career and you still want to win major trophies you’ve got to make a calculation. Am I going to do it if I stay at United?
‘I think he feels the club structure from the top down isn’t right. It’s not a reflection on the new manager [Erik ten Hag], he’s got a lot of respect for him, but it’s just an accurate reflection of where United are right now.
‘It’s for him to say what he feels but if you’re asking me then I don’t think he’s going to stay at Manchester United. I think he could end up somewhere quite surprising.’
Morgan, who supports Arsenal, added: ‘Arsenal fans listening should know I’m doing everything in my power to try and persuade him to come to Arsenal.
‘And bearing in mind he was close to coming to Arsenal as an 18-year-old, he was about to sign under Arsene Wenger, and at the last minute he blitzed United in a friendly for Sporting Lisbon and Ferguson didn’t leave that game until he signed him.
‘I believe he’d be coming home! Ronaldo up front with Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah would be a fantastic forward line for us, so why not?’