A Manchester United analyst nails it with his "awful" Cristiano Ronaldo remark.
Manchester United's iconic number seven has left the club in limbo after making it clear that he wants to leave if a club with Champions League football comes in for him.
Cristiano Ronaldo's request to leave Manchester United has been met with a two-day absence from pre-season training as speculation about his future at the club continues.
The 37-year-old is thought to have informed the Red Devils hierarchy last week that he wishes to terminate his two-year contract with United after just 12 months. His desire to leave is thought to be motivated by his belief that the club has failed to match his level of ambition in the transfer market thus far.
Despite the fact that United have signed Tyrell Malacia and are nearing a deal with Christen Eriksen, they are still interested in Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez. In recent days, the saga surrounding Ronaldo has taken yet another turn.
After relaxing with family in Ibiza, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner was set to return to United's Carrington training base on July 4 to begin pre-season training. Instead, Ronaldo informed the club that he would not be present and cited family obligations as the reason for his absence.
It was the same story the next day, which means the former Real Madrid player has now missed his first two days of pre-season training. According to The Athletic, club officials are understandably concerned about when Ronaldo will return.
Some in the United hierarchy are disappointed that Ronaldo knew the Red Devils had missed out on Champions League qualification in early April, but remained silent until informing them of his desire to leave as late as July.
According to a source close to Manchester United, some believe his timing is "awful."
Others are concerned that he will embarrass United further by refusing to join them on their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia. The first-team squad will depart together on Friday, July 8, giving Ronaldo very little time to reconsider and fulfill what is reportedly his contractual obligation.
If their biggest star refuses to travel for friendlies against Premier League giants Liverpool, Crystal Palace, and Aston Villa, the Red Devils may lose money on sponsorship deals.
Footage posted to social media on Monday afternoon purportedly shows Ronaldo driving away from Portugal's national team training facilities, implying that he has even less time to return to Manchester before flying out to Thailand with his teammates at the end of this week.
This comes as Chelsea, another Premier League club, is reportedly plotting a surprise move for Ronaldo's signature after meeting with the 37-year-agent old's Jorge Mendes.
Given that Chelsea will play Champions League football in west London next season, Ronaldo may actively pursue a move to Stamford Bridge this summer.
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