Cristiano Ronaldo has no buyers in January

Robin Bairner

• 27 Oct 2022 07:45 BST
• 2 min read

Cristiano Ronaldo looks increasingly likely to find himself marooned at Manchester United, with there no apparent interest from any major club in completing a deal.

Ronaldo has been trying to force his way out of Old Trafford since marching off before the end of the recent Premier League fixture against Tottenham after he had refused to come on as a substitute.

This is a continuation of a lengthy summer transfer saga, which stretched much of the duration of the window. Ronaldo did not appear for pre-season training when expected, and though the club official say he was given special absence, it is clear that his failure to appear has hampered his status under new head coach Erik ten Hag and left him short of his usual on-field sharpness.

MORE: The two conditions for Ronaldo leaving Man Utd in January

Team after team turned down the opportunity to sign the 37-year-old in the summer, and a similar pattern is emerging before the January transfer window. Worse for Ronaldo, these clubs have been aiming jibes in his direction, with Marseille indicating they want a player who looks out for the team and not himself.

Napoli say no to Ronaldo

Now Ronaldo has received another setback ahead of the upcoming transfer period, during which Manchester United are willing to waive a transfer fee simply to get him off their books. The prospect of the Red Devils spending £10 million to sever his contract, meanwhile, has been discussed but is unlikely to be implemented.

He will not, however, be going to Napoli, who had been linked with a move for him.

REVEALED: Ronaldo’s apology to Ten Hag

“Ronaldo in January? We won’t sign any player in January. We don’t need to change anything in this team,” Napoli director Cristiano Giuntoli told DAZN. “We’re doing great and we’re not planning any signing, as of today.”

Indeed, it is notable that he is now being linked to teams in the second-tier of Europe’s traditional elite, with it taken for granted that the truly big boys have little interest in a deal.

Ronaldo is back training with Man Utd, and with the probability high that he sees out his contract until 2023, it is for the best that the two parties are willing to work together amicably.