Posted: 11:04, July 7, 2022 | Updated: 11:37, July 7, 2022
Manchester United insist Cristiano Ronaldo is not for sale amid growing uncertainty over his future at Old Trafford. There was speculation on Thursday that United will listen to offers close to the £13m they paid to re-sign Ronaldo from Juventus last summer. Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is understood to be considering a bid after talks with the players’ agent Jorge Mendes, while there is also interest from Napoli. Cristiano Ronaldo missed training for fourth day and may miss pre-season tour However, United are sticking to the club’s official line that the 37-year-old is not for sale and remains contracted at Old Trafford for another year. Speculation over Ronaldo’s future has been fueled by his absence from pre-season training after informing the club he wants to leave. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was absent for a fourth day on Thursday after being given leave for “family reasons”. United still do not know whether Ronaldo will fly out with the rest of the squad on Friday for a tour of Thailand and Australia, although it is looking increasingly unlikely. The trip begins with a friendly against Liverpool at Bangkok’s Rajamangala National Stadium on Tuesday and also includes matches against Melbourne, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa in Australia. Ronaldo’s future has posed an immediate early problem for new boss Erik ten Hag Sources say Ronaldo will feature at Friday’s kit launch, with images of the Portuguese superstar set to be used despite him wanting to leave. However, the saga risks overshadowing Erik ten Hag’s start as United manager as the Dutchman prepares to face questions over Ronaldo’s status if it is not resolved. When United last toured three years ago – also in Australia – manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was dogged by questions about troubled striker Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian did not play a single game and shortly after left for Inter. It remains to be seen whether the issue surrounding Ronaldo – who has a much higher profile than Lukaku and has been used as the poster boy for this tour – will play out in the same way. Sir Alex Ferguson kept Ronaldo for another season before selling the player to Real Madrid in 2009 and United look equally determined to stand their ground now. However, it would be surprising if their resolve is not severely tested. Ronaldo has told United he wants to leave if they make the right offer for him this summer
