Ronaldo could still leave Man Utd on a free transfer
FT Desk
- 5 Sept 2022 17:29 BST
- 3 min read
The transfer window may have slammed shut with no takers for Cristiano Ronaldo, but he could still find a way out of Old Trafford with Turkish media suggesting an unlikely suitor.
Ronaldo is in a tricky predicament. Determined to leave this summer to pursue his dream of playing another season in the Champions League, he finds himself still at Manchester United and out of favour under Erik ten Hag.
🤬 Angry Ronaldo snubs Ten Hagpic.twitter.com/wFI3tck1ci
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) August 13, 2022
After missing pre-season, Ronaldo was handed one start, in the 4-0 embarrassment by Brentford. Dropped to the bench since, United have won their subsequent four games, which have included victories over Liverpool and Arsenal.
To make matters worse for the Portuguese, Marcus Rashford has been shining in his absence, scoring three goals in that time and assisting two more from the point of the Red Devils' attack.
Ten Hag: 'Friend and teacher'
Ten Hag insists Ronaldo has a future under him at Old Trafford, saying on Sunday that: "I will be his friend and sometimes I will be his teacher. It depends on the situation."
But Ronaldo has scored the most competitive goals in football history with 815 - a record 140 of which have come in the Champions League - and might question how much he needs a teacher.
According to Turkish sports news portal Ajansspor, Fenerbahce could be ready to offer him an escape.
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"Fenerbahce are about to detonate the transfer bomb of the century, not the year," they posted on Twitter. "Fenerbahce mobilised all its means to tie Cristiano Ronaldo to their colours. According to the information we received, the two sides have agreed in principle."
Fenerbahce, like United, would be unable to offer Ronaldo Champions League football this season having been beaten by Dynamo Kyiv in the second qualifying round.
But they would at least be able to offer him first-team football.
