Second thoughts
compatriot fits into his plans, especially as he is entering the final years of his career.
The Red Devils also do not want to be distracted by a summer-long and ultimately abortive chase for Ronaldo – as they were in 2013 – and end up missing out on other key targets like Alvaro Morata, Ivan Perisic and Radja Nainggolan.
Then there is the eye-watering transfer and wages package that could amount to over £250 million (RM1.4b) which simply does not add up for a player who would have no re-sale value in two or three years time.
Apart from a transfer fee likely to be around £150 million (RM825m), there are Ronaldo’s eyewatering wages.
His Real contract – signed only last November – is worth around £19 million (RM105m) a season, or £365,000 a week (RM2m), so a three-year contract would cost United around £60 million (RM330m).
And Manchester United are not interested in trading Spain’s No. 1 goalkeeper David De Gea in a cash plus player deal to lower the price.
The options appear limited for Ronaldo.
Since Bayern Munich were never in the race, it leaves Paris StGermain, Chelsea and possibly Inter Milan as the only European clubs who could afford him.
However, United have been given renewed hope that they could sign Robert Lewandowski after his agent reiterated his client’s anger towards Bayern Munich’s coaching staff and players.
Lewandowski was battling for the Bundesliga golden boot going into the final game of the season against Freiburg but drew a blank in the 4-1 win, leaving Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to overtake him after scoring a brace.
And Lewandowski was unimpressed with Carlo Ancelotti and his teammates, who he feels failed to help him in his bid to be the league’s top scorer.
This dissatisfaction is likely to give long-term admirers United hope they can take advantage of the situation and by offering to make him the main man at Old Trafford, something he craves but clearly feels he isn’t at Bayern.
This will give Ed Woodward renewed hope that he can persuade the former Dortmund hitman to trade the Allianz Arena for Old Trafford.
While Alvaro Morata is still firmly United’s current first choice and they will continue to pursue him, Lewandowski is more the type of star name the board is after.
Gareth Bale was the other “star” player who the club fell into the same desirable-but-unrealisticallyattainable category as Lewandowski and while it could be a ploy from his agent, a la Ronaldo, to get a new contract, it’ll be something the United hierarchy will now be encouraged to explore. – The Independent/ Express Newspapers