Cristiano Ronaldo: Erik ten Hag insists the Manchester United striker can’t even be fit for the match | Football news
According to Erik ten Hag, Cristiano Ronaldo is a long way behind the rest of the Manchester United team in terms of fitness, with the games needed for the striker to get up to speed.
Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes held a meeting with United in Carrington on Tuesday, but his position remains unchanged and he wants to play for a club in the Champions League and win major trophies. .
However, United don’t want him to go. The Portugal international, who has a year left on his contract with United, was left out of the squad for their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia and was not included in the squad for the friendly defeat. -1 against Atletico Madrid in Oslo on Saturday.
He suggested on Instagram that he would appear in United’s final pre-season friendly against Rayo at Old Trafford, saying: “Sunday, the King plays”.
“He’ll be on the team tomorrow,” Ten Hag told Viaplay after the team’s loss. “We’ll see how long he can play,”
“I can’t say in this moment (how fit he is). He’s not at the level of the rest of the team because he’s been off so many weeks. But he needs the games and he is. It takes practice, a lot.”
His potential options elsewhere are limited. Chelsea is no longer an option, while Bayern Munich and Atletico seem to publicly exclude themselves this week.
Atletico fans display a banner saying ‘CR7 is not welcome’ at a pre-season friendly on Wednesday.
Ronaldo ran out of options?
Sky Sports News senior reporter Melissa Reddy:
“As we have seen on Instagram, Ronaldo has kept up well, so there is no concern from Manchester United about his fitness or physical level; he is one of the strongest players. in world football.
“In the end, Ronaldo has made it clear his desire to leave Old Trafford, but he’s run out of options, and it looks like he’s really going to have to stay. Maybe he’ll try and do it where he’s not. his 25% pay cut in contract will be given up by United, maybe he wants to maneuver and forge a new deal, we’ll have to wait and see but it looks like Stamford Bridge doesn’t have his card that.
“Chelsea have shied away from the deal with Ronaldo, as have Bayern Munich, Napoli and so many other elite clubs that Jorge Mendes, Ronaldo’s agent, tried to sell him to.
“An offer from Saudi Arabia was extraordinary but in the end it didn’t give Cristiano Ronaldo what he wanted, that’s that legacy. He wanted to achieve Champions League records that he didn’t think he could. who else can achieve in the future.
“He wants to sign at the absolute highest level. Now it looks like he will have to stay at Manchester United more and more because there are no bad guys from the big clubs.”
United not giving up on De Jong | Open for Bailly deals
United not giving up on signing Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jongand feel comfortable with the extensive deal they have with Barcelona – worth £72m including add-ons.
Clubs will have their own deadlines to complete a deal before triggering moves for other goals. Sky Sports News have been told United are keeping alternatives “warm” should a deal for De Jong fail to materialize.
United have also been interested in Ajax’s front Antony in this transfer window but not at the price Ajax wants.
The club opens its doors to defenders Eric Bailly and Alex Telles.
There has been interest from Fulham, Trabzonspor and from Serie A for Bailly. United wants to sell or at least a loan with a buying obligation.
Telles’ game time will be further limited next season following the arrivals of Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez, but no specific offers have yet been made.
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