Ronaldo wants to quit Man Utd: The clubs Jorge Mendes has offered him to

FT Desk

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:46 CDT
• 4 min read

Rumours around Cristiano Ronaldo's future have been circulated for some time, but news on Saturday suggests that the forward wants out of Manchester United.

Multiple reports suggest that the Portuguese has requested that United listen to any offers which may arrive for him. Just last week a particularly outlandish rumour emerged that he is set to team up with Jose Mourinho at Roma next season.

But we also know that Jorge Mendes has offered Ronaldo to at least four other clubs as the Manchester United superstar tries to negotiate his exit.

Cristiano returned to Man Utd last summer after 12 years away in a much-publicised transfer from Juventus.

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The superstar was aiming to bring the glory days back to Old Trafford and challenge for major trophies.

However, despite impressing individually with 24 goals in 38 games, Man Utd endured the worst season in the club’s Premier League history.

They finished trophyless in sixth place, accumulating the lowest number of points since the Premier League was formed in 1992. They also conceded a club record number of goals and finished with their worst-ever goal difference, and superagent Mendes, who has a host of high-profile clients, may look to move his more prominent player on.

Erik ten Hag has since taken over as the club’s new manager ahead of next season but, as we approach the start of July, Man Utd have still not signed a single player.

According to multiple sources, Ronaldo is concerned about the club’s ability to challenge for trophies next season and his agent Mendes has thus begun to speak to other clubs.

Mendes has started testing the water to see who would be interested signing Ronaldo this summer.

So far, it is acknowledged that four clubs have been approached.

The most high-profile is Chelsea, who are looking for a new number nine as Romelu Lukaku is set to return to Inter on loan.

Mendes met with Chelsea's new owner and interim sporting director Todd Boehly last week to discuss a possible transfer, according to The Athletic.

According to Sky Italia, Ronaldo was also offered to Bayern Munich as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski.

Lewandowski is likely to leave Bayern and join Barcelona, but the German champions are understood to have rejected the offer of taking Ronaldo.

In Italy, it has been reported for weeks that Mendes has been in discussions with Roma. This was once again pushed by the Italian media, especially Gazzetta dello Sport, this weekend.

Roma’s coach, of course, is Jose Mourinho, who worked with Ronaldo at Real Madrid.

It appears a long-shot that Roma could afford Ronaldo’s wages, but the Giallorossi will be able to benefit from favourable Italian tax laws which would allow them to pay only half of Cristiano’s salary.

A move to Sporting Lisbon also appears very much unlikely for the same reason, and they are the fourth club who Mendes has discussed Ronaldo’s future with.

Ronaldo would like to play for his first professional club again before he retires but, given he is still playing at a very high level, perhaps now is still too early.

Either way, it now seems more and more possible that Ronaldo will leave Manchester United this summer providing he finds the right club from a sporting and financial point of view.