Cristiano Ronaldo: Man Utd’s January transfer expectations for striker revealed

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:55 CDT
• 3 min read

Manchester United are in the advanced stages of planning for the January transfer window – taking into account what they expect to happen with striker Cristiano Ronaldo.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has had a difficult start to the season with the Red Devils, struggling for both form and game time after missing a huge chunk of pre-season training.

Indeed, with manager Erik ten Hag playing in a style apparently unsuited to the Portuguese, there has been a strong suspicion that the Red Devils could have sold him in January. There was even talk of Ronaldo being released from his contract, though the cost of that made it prohibitive and would have been an embarrassing blow for both the player and the club.

MORE: Ronaldo and Gary Neville’s relationship is OVER

Since the falling out against Tottenham, which took him to that tipping point, he has reintegrated into the team and started back-to-back victories over FC Sheriff and West Ham.

This is proof that Ten Hag still envisages a future with Ronaldo at Manchester United until the end of the season at least.

Ronaldo going nowhere

Indeed, the Manchester Evening News affirms that Ronaldo will remain at the club for the remainder of his contract, despite speculation previously to the contrary.

MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo at Man Utd: Goals, assists, results & fixtures

But it is also now a marriage of convenience. Ronaldo does not have any options considered to be enticing enough to leave the club form, in part because he has set high expectations for any team that he might sign for. Champions League football is considered a pre-requisite, but there is no club in that competition in a position to sign him.

Anthony Martial’s return to fitness is liable to see Ronaldo relegated back to second choice at Man Utd, while the Old Trafford side have made finding a striker next summer a priority – an indication that this is simply a stay of execution for one of the game’s all-time greats.