Cristiano Ronaldo ‘was annoyed with 25 percent pay cut written into Man United contract’
Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed frustrations about having to take a 25 per cent pay cut after Manchester United missed out on a Champions League spot, according to a report.
The 37-year-old made it clear earlier this summer that he wanted to leave the club in search of Champions League football, and frustrations have been growing ever since.
United manager Erik ten Hag made it known Ronaldo was part of his plans, but the forward has been linked with several European clubs, and, according to The Sunday Times, expressed his anger at having to take the pay cut – which was written into his contract – after scoring 18 Premier League goals last season.
Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed frustration at having to take a contracted pay cut
The forward was docked 25 per cent of his wages after Man United finished sixth last season
Ronaldo was reportedly sold the dream of winning the Premier League title with United when he joined the club last summer, making a U-turn on a move to defending and eventual champions Manchester City.
He had won three Premier League titles during his first stint at United, but seemed unprepared for what was to greet him when he returned to the club a decade later.
He dug United out of several holes last season, including in the Champions League, a competition in which he is the all-time record goalscorer.
He scored 13 more league goals than any of his team-mates, but could only do so much as the club finished sixth in the table, destined for Europa League football and games against Sheriff Tiraspol and Omonoia.
Ronaldo has made his desires to leave United clear all summer, but is short on options
Erik ten Hag is reportedly now willing to sell Ronaldo after saying he wanted him to stay
It is suggested that Ronaldo had performed well enough to think he shouldn’t be punished due to United’s failures, despite what his contract said.
Erik ten Hag and the Glazer family both wanted Ronaldo to stay despite the forward making his desires to leave clear, but ten Hag is said to have changed his mind after United’s 4-0 defeat to Brentford.
After the Dutchman questioned his players’ commitment, Ronaldo is believed to have been frustrated at ten Hag blaming the players for the defeat. He’s been benched in both games since.
Ronaldo is said to be frustrated with ten Hag blaming United’s loss to Brentford on the players
Ronaldo has been benched in Manchester United’s last two Premier League fixtures
ten Hag is now reportedly willing to let Ronaldo leave the club, with the Glazers also on board, willing to suffer the commercial consequences to see him leave.
Ronaldo has been linked with numerous clubs, from Bayern Munich to Atletico Madrid, Sporting Lisbon to Napoli, to an unnamed club in Saudi Arabia.
It seems each club has a reason of sorts as to why the Portugal international can’t join, but, with just one week remaining in the transfer window, all parties will be eager for a solution to the problem.
