Ronaldo signing mission impossible for Mourinho

Cristiano Ronaldo will not be returning to Manchester United this summer, with manager Jose Mourinho admitting a move for the Portuguese has always been “mission impossible”.

Last month the 32-year-old Real Madrid striker became disgruntled as he felt singled out for disproportionate treatment by Spanish prosecutors, who accused him of evading tax of 14.7 million euros (£12.8m).

Those allegations were denied in a statement by Ronaldo’s management company Gestifute and the attacker was believed to have told those close to him he wanted to quit both the club and Spain.

That stance seems to have softened and talk of a summer return to United has dissipated.

United boss Mourinho worked with his compatriot in Madrid and says an Old Trafford reunion was never on the cards.

“We have never thought about it because he is too much of an important player for his club, of great economic power,” he said.

“We have not been able to find for whatever reason anything that could have made us think that Ronaldo could leave.

“I am not a defender of my club once I waste time on players who are mission impossible.”

United kicked off their pre-season tour of the USA with a 5-2 win against Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday. Marcus Rashford scored twice, with Marouane Fellaini, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial also on the mark.

Sergio Romero has meanwhile been rewarded with a new deal at United, keeping the goalkeeper at the club until at least 2021.

The Argentina international moved to Old Trafford two years ago and has proved a more than able deputy to firstchoice David De Gea.

Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer a United target.