Man Utd in embarrassing Ronaldo marketing blunder

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 23 May 2023 09:00 CDT
• 3 min read

Manchester United fans might have thought they had seen the last of Cristiano Ronaldo – but that is not quite the case.

Ronaldo was released by the Red Devils by mutual consent shortly before he started Portugal’s World Cup campaign, with the striker having claimed in an unsolicited interview that he felt “betrayed” by the club and “disrespected” by key figures such as manager Erik ten Hag.

Having already pushed to leave Man Utd in the summer, he was given his wish to depart the club and now it appears that a transfer to Saudi Arabia is on the cards, with Al-Nassr favourites to land the 37-year-old on a two-and-a-half-year contract worth an estimated €500 million.

MORE: Ronaldo offered a second ‘crazy proposal’

Ronaldo is Man Utd’s Mr January

Ronaldo, meanwhile, has tarnished his legacy in the eyes of many Man Utd supporters yet they will have to face him again in January – as the club’s official calendar for 2023 has the Portugal international front and centre.

The Sun reports that Ronaldo’s exit from Manchester United came too late for the Old Trafford side to make a change to the product, which is left ironically out of date before the beginning of the new year.

The calendar, after all, is said to be: “Perfect for any Manchester United fan with images of players from the current squad.”

MORE: Ronaldo goal claims proof of his desperation

The Red Devils, meanwhile, have been desperate to sweep away any hint of Ronaldo from the club, going so far as to remove his image from a mural outside their Old Trafford home before the player had even been sacked.

Man Utd have reduced the price of their remaining Ronaldo stock, with T-shirts, mugs and keyrings having been slashed in price following the striker’s brutal attack on the club.

Ronaldo signed off from Man Utd in disappointing style, having spent much of the season on the bench. In 16 appearances in all competitions, he scored just three goals, two of which were in the Europa League against Moldovan outfit FC Sheriff.