Multiple clubs had the opportunity to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United and pay him only £80,000-per-week, but refused to do so.
The 37-year-old has now left the club with his contract terminated by mutual consent as the relationship between club and player completely broke down.
It was clear over the summer that Ronaldo wanted to leave, but a move did not materialise and Erik ten Hag did use him in the first team, but not as much as the player would have liked.
Having become frustrated by sitting on the bench, Ronaldo engineered a headline-grabbing interview with Piers Morgan blasting the club and Ten Hag, which led to his exit.
The Athletic claim that Ten Hag was happy for Ronaldo to leave before the close of the summer transfer window, after the memorable 4-0 defeat to Brentford in the Premier League in August.
United were paying the Portuguese superstar up to £450,000-per-week and they were happy to pay a percentage of his wages if any club were willing to sign him, and it was a club he was willing to join.
But, the report claims that multiple clubs were not interested in signing the striker even given the chance to pay him just £80,000-a-week.
Ronaldo was offered much more than that, turning down the opportunity to move to Saudi Arabia on a contract worth £300m.
Reports have suggested that he has now changed his mind and agreed a move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, however, Ronaldo has denied this.
As yet he still remains without any club, but will be focusing on Portugal as they take on Morocco in the World Cup quarter-final at 4pm on Saturday.
