Cristiano Ronaldo triumphantly returned to Manchester United in 2021, where he had high expectations for his role in bringing the team back to its previous glory.
Nevertheless, the Red Devils struggled in the Premier League and were eliminated from the Champions League at the last-16 stage despite his effort, scoring 24 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions during the 2021–22 season.
Ronaldo had a clear love for the Old Trafford team, but he was eager to move before the 2022–23 season in order to play in the Champions League.
United originally resisted letting the legendary attacker depart, but eventually gave in to his wish to move on.
However, due to his alleged exorbitant wage demands, no teams shown a genuine interest in signing Cristiano Ronaldo.
As a result, he was compelled to remain where he was, and over the past month, his situation has gotten progressively worse.
Ronaldo frequently had to make do with a seat on the bench, and things got out of hand when he walked out of the stadium completely just before the final whistle after refusing to leave the substitution bench during the 2-0 victory over Tottenham.
Erik ten Hag was not pleased with his behavior, and the Dutchman benched Ronaldo for the away game against Chelsea. A transfer in the January transfer window now looks much more likely than before.
But does his contract permit an early termination?
Futballnews examines his current contract’s expiration date, his income, a potential exist clause, and other factors.
When will Cristiano Ronaldo’s deal at Manchester United expire?
On June 30, 2023, Ronaldo’s deal with Manchester United is set to end.
The club does have the option to extend the agreement by another year, bringing it to June 30, 2024.
Ronaldo was acquired by the Red Devils from Juventus in August 2021 on a two-year agreement.
By the time his contract with the Premier League team expires in 2023, he will be 38 years and 4 months old.
How much does Cristiano Ronaldo earn at Manchester United?
According to a Daily Mail article, Ronaldo receives £385,00 ($466k) per week as part of his deal with Manchester United.
That indicates that Ronaldo makes about £20 million ($24 million) a year at Old Trafford, before performance-related bonuses and other financial perks.
Does Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract with Manchester United contain a release clause?
Although it is typical in certain nations for contracts to contain a minimum fee release clause, this is not the case in the UK, and Ronaldo’s current contract does not contain an escape option.
That won’t likely pose any problems, though, since numerous sources have indicated that Manchester United would be prepared to release the attacker for free in order to assist a transfer and remove his enormous salary from the books.
What does Manchester United plan to do with Ronaldo?
According to sports attorney David Seligman, Man Utd has a legal right to end Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract and prevent him from joining another team.
Thanks to his shocking interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo has completely severed ties with the Premier League team.
The Portuguese captain missed last week’s victories over Aston Villa and Fulham in the Carabao Cup and Premier League respectively for the Red Devils.
Ronaldo claimed that he felt “betrayed” by the team and that he did not “respect” boss Erik ten Hag in an interview with Morgan.
In addition, he criticized the infrastructure of the club, noting that it hasn’t changed since he initially joined nearly 20 years ago.
When questioned if United’s leadership was attempting to get him to leave the team, Ronaldo responded: “Yes, not only the coach, but another two or three guys around the club. I felt betrayed.”
The 37-year-old said when asked again if senior club administrators were attempting to remove him: “I don’t care. People should listen to the truth.”
Adding to Ten Hag, Ronaldo said: “Yes, I felt betrayed and I felt like some people don’t want me here, not only this year, but last year too.”
David Seligman said that the Red Devils might be able to prevent the legendary Portuguese player from joining another team after being fired.
Which team might Cristiano Ronaldo join?
With the tattered relationship between Ronaldo and Manchester United, the Portuguese could leave Old Trafford in January. From all indications, it seems Chelsea and Bayern Munich are considering making a move for him. However, such a move would definitely anger United supporters.
A return to Serie A was – and likely still is – a possibility, with reports claiming that Napoli and Roma, where Jose Mourinho is the manager, would be open to a deal.
While this was going on, rumors of Ronaldo returning to Real Madrid, where he won four Champions League titles, briefly circulated. It was said that Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, had been scouting the area.
Only a select few teams, like Paris Saint-Germain, would be able to pay the attacker, and a tearful return to Sporting, where his football career began, is the kind of well-traveled route travelled by many professionals.
