Cristiano Ronaldo will be allowed to leave Manchester United during the January transfer window if a suitable offer is received.
The 37-year-old is understood to have told the Red Devils in early July of his wish to leave over the summer in order to continue playing Champions League football.
Ronaldo eventually stayed at Old Trafford past the summer window, but the forward has struggled so far this season, scoring only one goal in eight games.
On September 15, the Portugal international scored his only goal of the 2022-23 season from the penalty spot against Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League.
Ronaldo has made just one Premier League start this season and was an unused substitute in Sunday’s Manchester derby against Manchester City.
When asked why he didn’t play the forward in Man United’s 6-3 loss against Pep Guardiola’s side, Erik ten Hag claimed it was out of respect to Ronaldo’s career.
“I didn’t bring him on out of respect for his big career,” said the Dutchman after the contest. “And the other thing, there was then the advantage I could bring Antony Martial on. He needs the minutes but I don’t want to point it out like that.”
Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial appear to be ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in the pecking order for the center-forward position, with the Portuguese likely to struggle for league starts this season.
Ronaldo To Leave Man United Next Summer?
Man United insisted over the summer that Ronaldo was not for sale, but The Telegraph reports that he is free to leave the club during the January transfer window.
According to the report, Ten Hag was eager to keep the striker when he first took over as head coach, but the Dutchman will not stand in his way if a fair offer comes in at the start of 2023.
Ronaldo looked frustrated on the bench against Manchester City on Sunday, the first time he had not played in a league game this season.
The former Sporting Lisbon youngster could be in the starting lineup against Omonia in the Europa League on Thursday, but he is unlikely to start against Everton in the league on Sunday.
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Ronaldo’s current contract at Old Trafford is set to expire at the end of June, although there is an option to extend it for another 12 months until the summer of 2024.
Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Atletico Madrid are believed to have passed up the opportunity to sign the forward during the recent transfer window.
Ronaldo, who will represent his country at the 2022 World Cup, is understood to be only interested in a move to a club playing in the Champions League this season, though his options will be further limited once the competition’s group stage ends.
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