Erik ten Hag, the next manager of Manchester United, will turn his back on Cristiano Ronaldo.
After agreeing to a deal in principle with the fallen giants, Ten Hag is poised to take charge of United in June after finishing the current season with Ajax.
And after making it obvious that Ronaldo will not figure in his long-term plans at Old Trafford, the Dutchman has given the go-ahead for him to depart.
Cristiano Ronaldo may be a Manchester United legend, but incoming manager Erik ten Hag has warned the club’s hierarchy that the striker does not fit into his plans to rebuild the squad.
The news will anger United fans, who still view Ronaldo as a legendary figure at the club despite his current struggles. Last summer, fans were outraged when Ronaldo, 37, snubbed Manchester City in order to return to United in a £12 million signing from Juventus.
Ronaldo was anticipated to help United compete for championships once more, but his return to Old Trafford has turned into a nightmare. The Red Devils have never participated in a championship game and will complete the season without a trophy for the sixth straight year.
Although Ronaldo has the option to extend his contract for another year, the forward has been contemplating his options since the turn of the year, having become disillusioned with life at United.
Despite his reputation, Ronaldo remains United’s leading scorer this season with 18 goals. However, he has only scored four times in his past 13 games and has battled to make Ralf Rangnick’s starting XI at times.
Ronaldo is said to have met with his agent, Jorge Mendes, in Portugal at the end of March to discuss his options for the coming season, with many offers expected.
While Ronaldo will have plenty of suitors, it appears that his fate at United has already been decided for him, with United chiefs told by Erik ten Hag that the veteran’s age and luxury status mean he is unsuited to the style of play and strategy he plans to apply once he takes over in June.
Erik Ten Hag will take over his new job as Manchester United head coach at the beginning of next season. That means Cristiano Ronaldo needs to start applying for a new job as a sticker at a new club.
