Cristiano Ronaldo wants away from Manchester United but is struggling to find a suitable suitor. Craving title runs and top-tier football (read: Champions League), the forward prefers a move to one of Europe’s elite, but none have been forthcoming. In a further blow to the Portuguese, Thomas Tuchel pulled the plug on discussions between the player’s agent and the club. The 37-year-old doesn’t quite fit into the German’s scheme, who’d rather throw millions at Robert Lewandowski, but a ‘big striker’ isn’t a priority at Stamford Bridge.

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Ronaldo is desperate to remain in Europe, to the extent that the player will turn down an unnamed Saudi Arabian club’s $275 million two-year offer. It would even fetch his present employers a $30 million fee, but easy riches and Indian summers are not for the record goalscorer. Despite United’s miserable 2021/22, CR7 was a rare bright spark, scoring 24 goals across all competitions. But many experts have argued that despite the impressive goals tally, he contributed little to the team’s overall play.

While the club and new manager Erik Ten Hag have reiterated that the veteran is firmly within their plans going forwards, the player sounded out his intentions to leave before the club left for their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia. Granted an exemption on personal grounds, Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes are perhaps using the time to find a club willing to take a punt on him.

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Meanwhile, United have been moderately busy during the off-season, securing left-back Tyrell Malacia’s services. While the back-and-forth with Barcelona continues for Frenkie de Jong, the 20-time Champions are moments away from announcing Lisandro Martinez’s signature. The Argentine centre-back will rejoin his former Ajax manager in a €55 million ($55.3 million) transfer. Danish midfielder, Christian Eriksen has also signed with the Manchester club, providing some much needed creativity to United’s midfield.

But as the rebuild continues at Old Trafford, the Red Devils must respond decisively with Ronaldo.