Cristiano Ronaldo: Difficult to tell if I’ll be at Man Utd in January

James Shearman

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

Cristiano Ronaldo does not know if he will remain a Manchester United player after the January transfer window.

Ronaldo's latest interview is bound to have caused a stir in the United dressing room, meaning there is little to no chance of him returning to the team.

But the Portugal international is under contract at Old Trafford, and can only leave if another club offers to take him.

PART II: Read the quotes in full from Ronaldo's interview with Piers Morgan

''It's difficult to tell right now,'' Ronaldo told Piers Morgan for TalkTV. ''It’s because my mood is right now to the World Cup.

''I don't know what's gonna happen after the World Cup, but as I told you before, and I will say again, the fans will be always in my heart. And I hope they are on my side, even if I’m back, or if I'm not back.

''When I arrived at Manchester United, I was always available to help the team to do the good things, to put in the right spots, to compete with the best teams.

''But it's hard when they cut your legs and they don't like you to shine and they don’t listen to your advice.''

Has Ronaldo played his last Man Utd game?

It is expected that Man Utd will find Ronaldo a new club during the World Cup break.

If that happens, then we may never see him in a Manchester United shirt ever again.

RETIREMENT: Ronaldo reveals how he could quit if Portugal win the World Cup

The Red Devils’ first game after the World Cup is on December 27 against Nottingham Forest, followed by Wolves on December 30.

If a club has already been found for Ronaldo by then, he could sit out those games to protect himself.

Additionally, Ronaldo would likely be granted extra rest if Portugal get to the latter stages of the World Cup – with the final on December 20.

So he wouldn’t be expected to return to training at Carrington until January, anyway.

This is all adds to the unfortunate likelihood that Ronaldo won’t play for Man Utd again.