Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo is being linked with a return to Real Madrid, with his current club all but guaranteed to miss out on Champions League football next season. Meanwhile, interim manager Ralf Rangnick has left it to successor Erik ten Hag to decide the forward’s future.
Barring any late miracles, United will miss out on a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League group stage. The Red Devils are currently sixth on the Premier League with 55 points, eight behind fourth-placed Arsenal, and having played an additional game.
Should Ronaldo choose to see out the second of his three-year contract with the club, he will be absent from the Champions League for the first time in his career.
The Portuguese international has played in every single edition of the tournament since the 2002/03 season – back when he was breaking through at Sporting Club – and has since broken the record for most appearances, most goals, and most assists while winning the competition five times. Real Madrid, as per the Mirror, have offered the forward an escape route.
The report claims that top executives in Madrid want the goal-machine back at Santiago Bernabeu despite the form of Karim Benzema. Given United’s troubles this season and the arrival of a third manager in a year, under whom his playing time is not yet guaranteed, the Madrid supremos are hoping to lure the five-time Ballon d’Or winner back. Ronaldo lasted nine years in his previous stint in Madrid, scoring 450 goals in 438 appearances.
Facing the question of Ronaldo’s uncertain future at Manchester United during a recent media appearance, interim manager Rangnick claimed that the answer must come from his successor.
“This is a question you need to ask Erik ten Hag. He’s showed that he can still be a vital part of this team, but it’s obvious the team needs some more strikers. There should be two or three new strikers next season, it’s pretty obvious.”
the German said.
The 37-year-old has scored 23 goals in 39 games on his return to Old Trafford. It remains to be seen whether his return will be extended by another 12 months, however.
