Manchester United are set to seek answers from Cristiano Ronaldo on the superstar’s future as the club return from their pre-season tour.
Ronaldo failed to report for duty under new boss Erik ten Hag prior to the team heading to Thailand and Australia, with the Portuguese citing a family issue and also making it known that he would like to leave the club this summer.
The Manchester Evening News report that Ten Hag and United will now seek to determine when Ronaldo plans to return to Carrington, where United’s players will reconvene for pre-season training on Tuesday.
The squad boarded a flight from Australia after their 2-2 draw with Aston Villa in Perth on Saturday, and Ten Hag has given them Monday off before a return to training on Tuesday.
United then face two pre-season friendlies in the space of just over 24 hours next weekend, taking on Atletico Madrid in Oslo next Saturday and then Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Ronaldo’s presence in either match is still up for debate having failed to kick a ball in pre-season so far, with the 37-year-old training by himself in a bid to maintain his fitness.
Next Saturday’s opponents Atletico have emerged as a potential suitor for Ronaldo, who was also heavily linked with Chelsea and Bayern Munich earlier in the summer before they signed Raheem Sterling and Sadio Mane respectively. The forward was also offered a money-spinning deal from Saudi Arabia, but wishes to stay in Europe.
A report in The Times indicates that Atletico are exploring the possibility of getting Antoine Griezmann off their wage bill in order to fund a move for Ronaldo, who is desperate to keep playing in the Champions League after United failed to qualify for the competition last season.
United are open to the idea of allowing Ronaldo to leave the club on a one-year loan deal, but only if the Portuguese signs an extension to his Old Trafford contract and returns to the club next summer – when they will hope that they are in the Champions League.
Ten Hag has been preparing his United squad for the opening game of the Premier League season at home to Brighton on August 7, with Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford all impressing the new manager during pre-season.
Speaking on Ronaldo’s future in Perth ahead of the Villa game, Ten Hag said: “I focus on the players who are there, they are doing really well, they are in good shape, I prefer to focus on that and develop that.
“I cannot wait for him (Ronaldo) to come in, then we will integrate him.”
