Ronaldo hoped to see more ambition from United at the start of Erik ten Hag’s tenure as manager and is disappointed the club have yet to make a signing. United are still hoping to convince the 37-year-old to stay, mainly with their work in the transfer market in the coming days and weeks. Ronaldo has not agreed to go to another team. His agent Jorge Mendes has been exploring options for weeks, with Chelsea and Bayern Munich among the clubs he has spoken to, and will continue to look at destinations for the Portugal international, but no negotiations are advanced. Ronaldo, who scored 24 goals for United last season after returning to Old Trafford from Juventus, has a contract until the end of next season which includes an option for a further year. United are close to signing Dutch left-back Tyrell Malacia, who is set to travel to Manchester on Sunday for a two-day medical after a fee of €15m (£12.9m) plus €2m in add-ons was agreed with the Feyenoord. , and are working on two much more expensive deals that they hope could be the kind to convince Ronaldo to stay. They have offered €41m plus €4m in add-ons for centre-back Lisandro Martínez – less than Ajax’s valuation – and are still chasing Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong. There is an agreement in principle with Barcelona to pay €65m guaranteed and €20m in add-ons, but the structure of the add-ons has not been finalized and personal terms must be agreed with the 25-year-old, who has not sought a transfer and he hoped to play in the Champions League next season. Barcelona president Joan Laporta insisted on Saturday he had no intention of selling De Jong but indicated he would ask the player to take a pay cut. Quick guide
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Thanks for your response. Martinez wants to move to England but United face competition for the Argentina international from Arsenal. United’s bid is higher than Arsenal’s, but Ajax value the 24-year-old at €50m. Ten Haag hopes his relationship with Martinez from three seasons together at Ajax could work to his advantage if wages and personal terms are sorted out. Losing Ronaldo would be a blow for United, partly because he scored 14 more goals than any other player at the club last season – Bruno Fernandes was second on that list – but also because this episode is the latest damning sign of their fall. Ronaldo has played in the Champions League every season since he first moved to United in 2003 and has won it five times, although not since 2018. United are in the Europa League next season. United confirmed on Saturday that goalkeeper Dean Henderson had joined Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan. Forest are also ready to bring in Giulian Biancone, a 22-year-old French defender, from Troyes.
