Posted: 22:44, July 26, 2022 | Updated: 00:31, 27 July 2022
Cristiano Ronaldo’s chances of being allowed to leave Manchester United dwindled on Tuesday night when Atletico Madrid axed the Portuguese forward. The 37-year-old returned to United on Tuesday after missing the club’s 17-day tour of Thailand and Australia on compassionate leave. He held showdown talks with new manager Erik ten Hag, their first meeting since Ronaldo told the club he wanted to leave. Cristiano Ronaldo arrived at Carrington at 10am on Tuesday, accompanied by his agent Jorge Mendes, in preparation for crucial talks with Manchester United manager Erik ten Haag. Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo said his club could not afford any move for Ronaldo The player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, is trying to plot a move, but with Bayern Munich and Chelsea having already said no, Ronaldo’s options were reduced again when Atletico president Enrique Cerezo said his club could not afford financially the attacker. Speaking on Spanish radio, Cerezo said: “I don’t know who invented this story about Cristiano Ronaldo at Atletico Madrid. ‘It’s not true. It is practically impossible for him to come to Atletico Madrid.’ United insist their star forward is not for sale. Ronaldo has a year left on his £360,000-a-week contract and has vowed to remain professional as talks over his future continue. Ronaldo has missed all of the club’s training so far after being given compassionate leave and did not travel with the rest of the squad to Thailand and Australia New manager Erik ten Hag briefed Ronaldo on the pre-season tour on Tuesday He took part in Manchester United’s tour on Tuesday and proved his willingness to remain professional when he joined United team-mates and new signings Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez for manager Ten Hag’s 90-minute analysis of their recent tour of Thailand and Australia. Ronaldo also stopped briefly to greet former boss Sir Alex Ferguson and captain Bryan Robson in the club’s restaurant ahead of the 11.30am meeting. Ferguson and Robson were in Carrington for a planned lunch with chief executive Richard Arnold and David Gill, the club’s former chief executive. Arnold was expected to meet Mendes later to discuss the forward’s future, but the club were unwilling to go into detail. Mendes has said he has been impressed by Arnold’s approach and willingness to listen. There has also been an attempt by Arnold to convince Ronaldo to stay and, as of Tuesday night, the club’s official stance remains the same: not for sale. United face Wrexham in a friendly behind closed doors on Wednesday but Ronaldo is unlikely to feature.
