Incoming Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has reportedly made a decision on the future of club legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
According to an exclusive report from the Daily Star, Erik ten Hag is already sketching out his plans for when he takes over as the manager of Manchester United this summer. And superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is not in the scheme of things of the Dutch tactician.
It has been a disappointing season for Manchester United as they have crashed out of all cup competitions and look set to miss out on a top-four finish in the Premier League. They will hope to start afresh and rise back to the heights of the past next season onwards when there will be a new manager in charge.
Indeed, current boss Ralf Rangnick was only appointed on an interim basis and will step down at the end of the season. The search for a new boss to replace the German has been underway for a while now. And current Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag has emerged as the front-runner to take over the reins at Old Trafford.
Manchester United are close to finalising a deal to appoint the 52-year-old as their next manager ahead of other candidates like Mauricio Pochettino of PSG and Spain national team boss Luis Enrique. Ten Hag, who has done a fine job at Ajax, is already chalking out plans for the squad that he will be inheriting at Old Trafford next season.
And, as per the report, one of the club’s biggest superstars of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo, is seemingly not a part of the Dutchman’s plans.
Ronaldo returned to Manchester United last summer, 12 years after departing the club back in 2009. Signed from Juventus, the Portuguese had a fine start to the campaign but has seen his form dwindle in the second half of the season. While he has scored 18 goals in 33 games this term for the Red Devils, only four of them have come in 2022.
With the club likely to miss out on qualification for the Champions League next term, it has raised question marks over his future. And it now seems like incoming boss Erik ten Hag does not see the 37-year-old as a part of his plans going forward.
The Dutch tactician believes Ronaldo would not be a good fit for his setup and tactics once he takes over in June. As a result, the Ajax boss has given the green light for the Portuguese maverick’s departure come summer. Should it turn out that way, Ronaldo is unlikely to be short of suitors, with PSG already being linked.