Cristiano Ronaldo’s camp have informed Manchester United that the player will look to leave in the summer should they fail to secure Champions League qualification for next campaign.
The Portuguese forward rejoined the Red devils on a two-year deal last August in the hope of steering the club back to its former glory, 12 years on from his initial exit for Real Madrid.
And while the 36-year-old has shone in front of goal, netting 14 times in 20 games, United find themselves languishing down in seventh position in the Premier League table, with results & performances continuing to disappoint under Ralf Rangnick.
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According to The Sun, Ronaldo’s representatives revealed their concerns during a recent talks with Richard Arnold, who is now set to take over the reins from Ed Woodward as United’s chief executive imminently.
The report claims Ronaldo’s team are worried about the club’s direction this term given the iconic forward is desperate to end his playing career on a high.
The Portugal international has confirmed he wants to play into his 40s and his entourage fear his chances of adding more silverware to his trophy-laden CV will be limited if he decides to stay in Manchester.
United have won only five of their opening nine games in all competitions since Rangnick took charge in November, but Ronaldo gave the German coach his backing last week and stressed he ‘needs time’ to implement his ideas.
However, Ronaldo hinted he was unhappy with the attitude of United’s youngsters in a separate interview and said anything below a third-placed finish was unacceptable.
‘Manchester United should win the league or be second or third,’ Ronaldo told Sky Sports.
‘I don’t see other positions for Manchester United to be honest, I don’t see. In my eyes, I don’t accept that our mentality be less than to be in the top three.
‘We are capable to change things now. I don’t know the specific way I’m a player, not the coach, the president, I know the way but I’m not going to mention it here because I think it’s not ethic [sic] from my part to say that.
‘What I can say and something I can say we are in control, we can do it better, all of us. Manchester belongs in important things, we have to change that.
‘I don’t want to be here in a club to fight to be in sixth or seventh or fifth place, I’m here to try to win, to compete.
‘I think we compete but we are not yet at our best level. Long way to improve and I believe if we change our mind, we can achieve big things.’
