Posted: 17:25, July 3, 2022 | Updated: 19:58, July 3, 2022
Manchester United have reportedly told a Cristiano Ronaldo fan that he must attend the club’s upcoming tour of Australia and Thailand.
The Portuguese star stunned Old Trafford on Saturday by telling the club he wants out, frustrated both by the lack of new signings and baffled by the club’s decision to appoint three managers in succession after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked.
The Red Devils, who returned to pre-season training at the start of the week after a disappointing sixth-place finish last campaign, begin a two-and-a-half-week tour on Friday.
Cristiano Ronaldo “has been informed by Manchester United that he must travel on their pre-season tour”.
However, in the latest twist, United have told Ronaldo he must travel with the squad and complete pre-season even if he ends up leaving this summer, according to the Mirror.
New boss Erik ten Hag will first take his side to a friendly against rivals Liverpool in Bangkok before traveling to Melbourne to face Crystal Palace and later Perth to play Aston Villa.
Ronaldo, 37, has played 19 consecutive seasons in the Champions League and became the competition’s all-time top scorer with 141 goals.
No player in history has appeared in more Champions League matches than Ronaldo (183).
The 37-year-old forward’s desire to leave is driven by his desire to play in the Champions League
The United enforcer is reportedly keen to take his tally of back-to-back Champions League seasons to 20 and move to a new European giant in pursuit of silverware.
A source close to Ronaldo is believed to have said: “Next season will be the first time he will not play in the Champions League.
“He has to play in competition – it’s what drives him to produce his best, that’s why he wants to move.”
Ronaldo was rocked by United appointing three managers in quick succession after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November, increasingly disillusioned with the club’s demise and concerned about the lack of progress since Solskjaer’s departure.
His agent, Jorge Mendes, has been in talks with clubs including Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Napoli in recent weeks to check if there is a market for his client, but no deal is in place as of yet.
Erik ten Hag will lead the Red Devils on their pre-season tour of Australia and Thailand in July
The difficulty for Ronaldo is who will be able to match his ambitions and current wages, and as it stands, United are ready to keep hold of the volatile striker, who has one year left on his £500,000-a-week deal.
Meanwhile, the club are close to making their first signing, with Feyenoord defender Tyrell Malacia flying out for a medical.
United had to work hard to land the Malaysian as the 22-year-old looked set to move to Lyon.
The Ligue 1 club had agreed a deal with Feyenoord for the full-back before United rejected their offer.
