Manchester United could be willing to let go of Cristiano Ronaldo during the current transfer window due to concerns about his mood in the Old Trafford dressing room.
Ronaldo returned to the club less than 12 months ago and still has a year left on his contract, but he has made it clear that he wants to leave Man United this summer, in favour of playing in the Champions League.
However the club’s manager, Erik Ten Hag, has taken the public stance that the striker is not up for sale.
And while United haven’t confirmed that they’ve changed their position on this, it’s been reported that the Portuguese player is a “negative presence” at the club.
A source told BBC Sport that “they fear there will be no change to United’s current issues until Ronaldo has gone.”
Ronaldo is regarded as one of the best footballer’s in the world, but although he’s keen to leave the Red Devils, he could struggle to find a new club.
Here’s why other teams don’t want the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Why don’t clubs want to sign Ronaldo?
(Image: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Ronaldo’s options are already limited because he wants to play in the Champions League this season.
But he’s also struggling to find a new club for a number of other reasons, including his age, rumoured dressing room behaviour, and the price tag that comes with him.
Bayern Munich were originally one of the favourites to sign Ronaldo this summer, but they’ve since made it very clear that it’s not going to happen because he doesn’t fit into their “philosophy”.
The club’s CEO Oliver Kahn said: “As highly as I rate Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the greatest, a transfer wouldn’t be a fit with our philosophy.
“I love Cristiano Ronaldo and everyone knows how fantastic he is. But every club has a certain philosophy and I’m not sure if it would be the right thing for Bayern and the Bundesliga if we signed him now.”
It’s also been reported by ESPN that Ronaldo’s agent offered him up to PSG, but that they decided to reject the chance to sign him because they don’t feel that he’s right for the club, and they also can’t afford his wages.
Meanwhile, the striker is also believed to have been ruled out by Atletico Madrid.
(Image: Getty Images)
When rumours were sparked that the former Real Madrid player could be making a move to the club, Atleti’s international fan groups announced their “absolute rejection” of the signing and said that Ronaldo represents “the antithesis of the values that are the hallmarks of our Atleti”.
Earlier this month, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said that he always thought Ronaldo was a “bizarre” signing.
He went on to say that “no other club in Europe” wants him due to his age and that the Man United dressing room doesn’t either.
The former Liverpool player told the Overlap: “The fact he’s now 37, 38 this season, he’s not the same player. He’s still a great goalscorer but he’s not the same player. No other club in Europe at this moment wants him.”
He added: “I think if you asked Ten Hag, I don’t think he wants him. And I’m not quite sure the dressing room at Manchester United would want Cristiano Ronaldo right now.”