Ronaldo blow as Atletico rule out transfer swoop
Atletico can’t afford deal so he’s stuck at United now even if he does want to leave
CRISTIANO RONALDO’S chances of being granted his exit from Manchester United dwindled last night when Atletico Madrid ruled themselves out of a move for the Portugal forward.
The 37-year- old returned to United yesterday after missing the club’s 17- day tour of Thailand and Australia on compassionate leave. He held showdown talks with new manager Erik ten Hag, their first meeting since Ronaldo told the club he wants out.
The player’s agent Jorge Mendes is trying to engineer a move, but with Bayern Munich and Chelsea having already said no, Ronaldo’s options decreased again last night when Atletico president Enrique Cerezo said his club could not afford the striker.
Talking to Spanish radio, Cerezo said: ‘I don’t know who invented this story about Cristiano Ronaldo to Atletico Madrid. It’s not true. It’s practically impossible for him to come to Atletico Madrid.’
United maintain that their star forward is not for sale.
Ronaldo has a year left on his £360,000-a-week contract and has vowed to remain professional as talks over his future continue.
CRISTIANO Ronaldo was part of Manchester United’s tour debrief yesterday after the club re-affirmed that the Portugal star is not for sale.
The 37-year- old arrived at the club’s Carrington training complex at 10am with agent Jorge Mendes ahead of a day of showdown talks over his future after telling the club last month that he wished to leave.
However, he proved his willingness to remain professional when he joined United team-mates plus new signings Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez for manager Erik ten Hag’s 90-minute analysis of their recent tour of Thailand and Australia.
Ronaldo also stopped briefly to greet former boss Sir Alex Ferguson and captain Bryan Robson in the club restaurant ahead of the meeting at 11.30am.
Ferguson and Robson were at Carrington for a scheduled lunch with chief executive Richard Arnold and David Gill, the club’s former CEO.
Arnold was expected to meet Mendes later on to discuss the striker’s future but the club were unwilling to go into detail.
Mendes has indicated he has been impressed by Arnold’s approach and willingness to listen. There has also been an attempt from Arnold to convince Ronaldo to stay and, as of last night, the club’s official stance remains the same: he is not for sale.
That has not deterred Mendes from attempting to find a new club for his star client, including his old rivals at Real Madrid, Atletico.
But last night Atletico president Enrique Cerezo dismissed the prospect and said the club could not afford Ronaldo.
Talking on Spanish radio, Cerezo said: ‘I don’t know who invented this story about Cristiano Ronaldo to Atletico Madrid. It’s not true. It’s practically impossible for him to come to Atletico Madrid.’ United face Wrexham in a behindcloseddoors friendly today but Ronaldo is unlikely to feature.
But new recruits Martinez and Eriksen, who shared a ride into Carrington yesterday, are more likely to play.
They will build up much-needed match fitness ahead of United’s next two friendlies. The first team will play a timely fixture against Atletico in Oslo on Saturday, while a second- string side take on Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford 24 hours later.
The burst of photographers’ flashes at 10am yesterday heralded Ronaldo’s return to the club. The striker looked resplendent in his £ 168,000 blue Bentley, his trusted agent Mendes alongside him.
The sense of occasion ccaied was amplified by the arrival of Ferguson almost t an hour later, even though the c l u b’ s former mana g e r was officially there for a meeting to discuss United’s broader r plans.
Still, many staff aff wondered whether her the Scot had arrived rrived to play another hand in trying to convincece Ronaldo to stay loyal to his beloved club. That, though, was left to Arnold and manager Ten Hag, who has maintained that there is a place in his remodelled team for the Portugal captain.
Ronaldo, who first informed United of his desire to leave lastla month, hash never playedpl in the Europa LeagueLea during his glittering career anda has no desire to start now; his wish is to move to a team fit to challenge for the Champions League. His ambition has always been to finish at the top. Ronaldo had been given compassionate leave for a family issue and United’s squad made do without him during their 17- day trip to Thailand and Australia. They returned on Sunday afternoon to be met with news that Ronaldo would soon be coming back. He flew in by private jet from Madrid at 9.30pm on Monday.
Should Ronaldo stay at the club Ten Hag will still need him to be match fit and is unlikely to bring him straight back into the team. Anthony Martial earned the right to lead the attack by scoring three goals in four friendly games.
Ten Hag said he spoke to Ronaldo before the tour, explaining: ‘I had a good talk.
‘That is between Cristiano and me. What I can confirm is that we had a really good conversation together.’
The words that come next will be the most important but Ronaldo’s presence at the team’s debriefing offers some hope of peace.
Ten Hag has already made it clear that he needs another forward, even if Ronaldo stays. United are pursuing a deal for Brazil winger Antony, valued at £68million by Ajax.
Such a purchase is unlikely to be straightforward, and with the Frenkie de Jong deal still up in the air, United do not need another transfer saga this summer.