Sir Alex Ferguson was photographed visiting Manchester United’s training complex on Tuesday morning, ahead of a meeting between Cristiano Ronaldo and United manager Erik ten Hag.
Cristiano Ronaldo was pictured arriving at Carrington this morning ahead of his future negotiations with Manchester United.
The 37-year-old has not participated in the club’s pre-season campaign after submitting a transfer request last month in a bid to force a move away, despite United’s insistence that he is not for sale.
In an apparent attempt to persuade Ronaldo to stay, United looks to have pulled Sir Alex Ferguson in for this morning’s clash, with the legendary Scot being photographed on his way into the club’s training field moments before Ronaldo arrived.
Ferguson reportedly played a crucial role in persuading Ronaldo to reject Manchester City last summer, but persuading the Portugal international a second time will be difficult considering statements he made last season when it became evident that United was out of the title fight.
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“Manchester [United] belongs [competing for] huge things,” Ronaldo said in January to Sky Sports.
“I don’t want to be here at a club fighting for sixth, seventh, or fifth place. I’m here to compete.”
Ronaldo has made it clear that he wants to spend the rest of his career playing Champions League football, but despite initial interest from Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain, there doesn’t appear to be a single elite team willing to take a chance on him.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner scored 24 goals last season to finish as United’s top scorer, but he was constantly chastised for damaging the team’s tactical coherence owing to his unwillingness to press and work hard off the ball.
Some detractors even said that United had deteriorated because of Ronaldo, and given that the previous season was statistically the worst in Premier League history, they may have a point.
🗣️ “I don’t want to be here fighting to be in 6th, 7th or 5th place…” 🔙#MUFC‘s Cristiano Ronaldo speaking back in January…👀🔴 pic.twitter.com/PjQX9LEFFK
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 26, 2022
