Cristiano Ronaldo: Manchester United ready to listen to striker offers, Sky Sports News understands

Manchester United are ready to listen to Cristiano Ronaldo offers this summer, Sky Sports News understands.

But United’s public position is, and always has been, that Ronaldo is not for sale after failing to show up for pre-season training for four consecutive days. He cited family reasons, an explanation the club accepts.

The final decision will be up to Ronaldo, leaving the door open for him to change his mind and stay at Old Trafford.

Sky Sports News has been told that Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has spent the past few weeks selling the ‘Cristiano effect’ to clubs after compiling a dossier on huge sponsorship, social media and the influence of ‘new markets ” from his client.

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly is among the leaders listening to the pitch and considering a move, with the Blues having also discussed a move for Paris Saint-Germain striker Neymar.

However, Chelsea are focused on deals for Raheem Sterling and Raphinha, with the club only signing players that head coach Thomas Tuchel wants.

Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Napoli have also been signed with Mendes.

The 37-year-old has not reported to training at Carrington, citing family reasonswhich the club accepted.

Ronaldo’s absence comes amid United news he wants to leave Old Trafford this summer if a suitable offer arrives.

Ronaldo was expected to join his teammates on Monday but has instead been keeping fit at Portugal’s training base – Cidade do Futebol – in recent days.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville believes Ronaldo’s future at United cannot become a ‘saga’ this summer.

The sky sports an expert tweeted on Monday: “The only important factor with the Ronaldo situation is that it is dealt with decisively and quickly. This cannot be a saga that distracts from ETH bedding over the next two months .”

Ronaldo is said to be concerned about United’s transfer activity this summer, but on Tuesday the club announced the first signing of Ten Hag with the arrival of Feyenoord left-back Tyrell Malacia.

Malacia could soon be followed by the arrival of Christian Eriksen after the Denmark international agreed in principle to join United on a free transfer.

A basic deal is in place with Barcelona for Frenkie de Jong, while advanced negotiations continue for Lisandro Martinez.

Talks have also been held with Ajax for striker Antony, but new boss Alfred Schreuder said: “He has a contract until 2025. I want to work with him, and the club know that.”

Ten Hag will have to expand his attacking goals if Ronaldo exits with the club already concerned about his lack of goal threat ahead of the new campaign.

Ronaldo scored 24 times in all competitions last season, but United recorded their lowest points tally in the Premier League.

United begin their pre-season fixture against Liverpool in Bangkok next Tuesday, ahead of friendlies with Melbourne City, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa in Australia.

Analysis: Ronaldo’s actions leave Man Utd in deep trouble

Sky Sports’ Zinny Boswell:

The moment Ronaldo’s desire to move on was made public left United in a bind, just a week before they set off on their pre-season tour. Manchester City and Liverpool moved quickly to secure deals for two of Europe’s best young strikers, while United planned to live with the Portuguese.

This begs the question: Should United have been better prepared for this scenario?

Erik ten Hag is now scrambling to reconfigure his line of attack. As things stand, he relies heavily on Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial for goals, neither of whom have played well for 12 months or been consistently convinced in a central role. They are the same two strikers that Louis van Gaal found himself entrusted with in the latter stages of his final season at Old Trafford six years ago.

United still have nearly two months to dive into the transfer market and find a solution to their striker problem. However, another disappointing start to the window left fans worried about the club’s effectiveness in negotiations. Even if this new transfer team led by John Murtough pulls together, rival clubs will sense the desperation at United and raise the price when calling up a striker.

Ronaldo’s exit, while potentially destabilizing in the short term, offers United and Ten Hag the opportunity to assemble a fluid forward line – something that worked well in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s penultimate season in charge. The campaign before Ronaldo arrived, United scored 73 Premier League goals – 16 more than with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. It’s a trend that has followed him since Juventus, where his arrival also led to a drop in goalscoring.

Ten Hag used Dusan Tadic as a false nine to great effect at Ajax in the 2018/19 season as they reached the Champions League semi-final. The new United boss also managed to use Sebastian Haller, a more conventional No.9, last season as Ajax won a third Eredivise title in four years under Ten Hag. If the former West Ham striker hadn’t sealed his transfer to Borussia Dortmund, it wouldn’t have been surprising to see United try to replace Ronaldo with Haller due to Ten Hag’s preference to work with players with whom he is familiar.

Whichever side you find yourself on when it comes to Ronaldo, there’s no denying that United need to strengthen their attacking options, and fast. Ajax striker Antony is a target and would fill a void on the right wing, but even his arrival would leave a gaping hole at the centre-forward. Whether the club will be able to find Ten Hag’s ideal target under these circumstances remains to be seen, potentially leaving United to spend another season with a stopgap striker. They are not hoping for another Odion Ighalo.

Ronaldo’s dilemma: was he to blame?

Sky Sports’ Peter Smith:

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named Premier League Player of the Month for April. He had scored five goals in four games, including a hat-trick. But in that month, Manchester United have won just one out of six games.

Ronaldo was also named in the Premier League Team of the Year. United ended the season with back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Crystal Palace. Sixth and without a trophy. It was their worst performance in the league in 32 years.

While his team floundered, Ronaldo – at 37, it should not be forgotten – still found a way to win.

The individual and the collective. This is Ronaldo’s dilemma.

Read the full feature here

Merson says: Ronaldo ticks the box for Chelsea

In his last sky sports column, Paul Merson delivers his verdict on Chelsea potentially signing Cristiano Ronaldo:

“It’s a little disappointing the way you hear the news that he wants to play in the Champions League. It’s clear that Man Utd won’t be in the Champions League for a long time. I don’t know why that was’ “I was nipped in the bud at the start of the gates. It must have dragged on for so long. I’d be a bit disappointed if I was a Man Utd fan.

“It’s hard to have centre-forwards who can score goals, especially in the best and toughest league in the world. So if Ronaldo has moved on, Man Utd don’t really have a replacement. to take his place as a proven goalscorer who’s going to get you 15 to 20. So they should go get somebody.

Man Utd schedule: Ten Hag debut v Brighton on Sky

Erik ten Hag’s first Premier League game as Manchester United manager will be against Brighton at Old Trafford, live on sky sportsduring the opening Super Sunday of the 2022/23 season.

After taking on Graham Potter’s Seagulls on Sunday August 7, live on sky sports, United travel to Brentford in the second round of fixtures before hosting rivals Liverpool in a blockbuster early-season clash on the weekend of August 20.

United’s trip to the Etihad Stadium for the first Manchester derby of the season on October 1 kicks off a daunting month that sees Ten Hag’s side travel to Everton and Chelsea and host Tottenham, Newcastle and West Ham.

The last game before the season break for the Winter World Cup will be against Fulham on the weekend of 12/13 November. United then return to action on Boxing Day at Fulham.

2023 will be opened with a home game against promoted Bournemouth. Premier League champions Manchester City are next at Old Trafford on January 14, the return trip to Anfield on March 4, while United conclude their season at home to Fulham on May 28.

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