Manchester United have confirmed that they are not looking to terminate Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract, sticking to their decision over their wantaway striker.
The 37-year-old has been pushing for a move away from Old Trafford all summer as he wants to play in the UEFA Champions League and the Red Devils cannot offer him that this campaign.
Given the poor start they have made to the campaign, it does not look likely that they can offer it next season either, after back-to-back defeats to Brighton & Brentford.
Ronaldo was frustrated during and after the 4-0 defeat at the hands of the Bees on Saturday and reports suggested that United were considering terminating his contract and allowing him to leave.
The Portugal international has a year left to run on his current deal with the Red Devils but would like to get out of the club early.
However, the club confirmed through a spokesperson that they have no intention of terminating his contract, saying: ‘There is no change in the club’s position.’
It has been a poor start to the season for United and the uncertainty over Ronaldo is not helping matters, although Erik ten Hag insists he is planning for the campaign ahead with him and is not so sure that he even wants to leave.
Ten Hag was asked what it was like to manage a Ronaldo who wants to leave the club on Friday ahead of Saturday’s trip to Brentford, and said: ‘That is your assumption [that Ronaldo wishes to depart].
‘That is not what he is telling me. So I deal with the players we have and we plan with him for this season and we have to fit him into the team so he has to come at the right fitness levels so that he can do the job that we expect him to do.’
