Cristiano Ronaldo has asked Manchester United to put him on the transfer list ahead of the new season.
According to The Times, Manchester United were dealt with a major blow on Saturday after Cristiano Ronaldo asked the club to place him on the transfer list. The attacker has informed the Red Devils that he wants to leave Old Trafford ahead of the new season and has urged them to sanction his sale if they receive a substantial offer.
A legend at Old Trafford, Ronaldo rejoined Manchester United last summer. It was a gamble for the Red Devils, who looked on the right path under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. But with Ronaldo linked with a move to Manchester City last summer, United took it upon themselves to turn the tide and secure his services.
In his first season after returning to England, Ronaldo was pretty much the lone wolf in the Manchester United attack. His tally of 24 goals in all competitions was one of the few bright sparks in an otherwise dire campaign for the Red Devils, who failed to even seal a top-four finish in the Premier League.
With no Champions League football on offer for next season, Ronaldo is increasingly keen on sealing an exit from Old Trafford. The attacker reportedly wants to play Champions League football for the rest of his career, even though Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has publicly voiced his desire to revolve his team around the Portuguese icon.
Among the few clubs who can afford his services ahead of the new season, Chelsea were reportedly offered the opportunity to sign the former Real Madrid superstar this summer. The Blues are fresh from a massive takeover and new owner Todd Boehly could fancy bringing in a footballing superstar such as Ronaldo to boost the image of the club.
Bayern Munich were mooted as another potential destination for Ronaldo. Having roped in Sadio Mane from Liverpool, the Bavarians are in no position to afford the Portuguese international. But they are set to lose Robert Lewandowski in the summer, which could potentially help them balance the books and sign Ronaldo.
A dark horse in this race could be Sporting CP. Ronaldo had initially started his career for the Lions and the player has a deep respect for the club. But he is unlikely to return to Sporting just yet, as he does not only want to compete in the Champions League but also do well in the competition.
With that in mind, Chelsea could be the best bet, although it will be interesting to see if Bayern can fund a surprise move for the generation star in world football this summer. As things stand, though, Manchester United could potentially bid goodbye to Ronaldo just a year after re-signing him from Juventus.
