Jorge Mendes fails in double attempt to orchestrate Cristiano Ronaldo exit from Man Utd, leaving striker eyeing other solution
Cristiano Ronaldo has been rejected by two Serie A sides who could have granted his Champions League wish, it has been revealed.
Ronaldo’s future was an unwelcome distraction at Manchester United over the summer. Opinions are divided on how his second spell with the club has gone. On the one hand, he was the club’s top scorer last season. On the other hand, his arrival may have affected team dynamics.
After finishing sixth in the Premier League Manchester United can’t offer Ronaldo a Champions League engagement this season. Due to his desire to continue playing in UEFA’s top club competition, the striker has been looking for an exit from Old Trafford.
However, it was difficult for Ronaldo to find a new club. Despite his status as a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, his high wages and the fact that he’s 37 years old deter applicants.
Connections to Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea have come and gone quickly. Therefore, Ronaldo still started the season as a Man Utd player. And at this rate, he could reach the end of the summer transfer window as one.
Now new information has emerged about two clubs that turned down the chance to sign Ronaldo.
Corresponding Corriere dello Sport, his agent Jorge Mendes offered him to AC Milan and Inter earlier this summer. The two rivals finished first and second respectively in Serie A last season. Therefore, both will be in the group stage of the Champions League.
They could also give Ronaldo a platform in Italy, where he used to play for Juventus. He scored 101 goals in 134 goals for the Old Lady between 2018 and 2021.
Milan rivals prefer other ex-Man Utd attackers
However, attempts by Mendes to house Ronaldo at the San Siro for both clubs were unsuccessful. The report of Corriere dello Sport explained why.
The overarching issue for both clubs was his salary. As he renounced Italian citizenship when leaving Juventus, he would not benefit from the country’s growth decree for foreign athletes.
Therefore, either Milan or Inter should have invested 45 million euros gross in his salary per season. Quite simply, they couldn’t afford it.
Instead, Inter brought back ex-Man Utd forward Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea, while Milan signed Charles De Ketelaere from Club Brugge and gave Zlatan Ibrahimovic – another former Red Devils – a contract extension.
Seemingly unlikely move still suggested for Cristiano Ronaldo
So where is Cristiano Ronaldo? Corresponding Corriere dello Sportone of the only solutions now would be to return to his first club, Sporting CP.
The Lisbon team can offer him Champions League football, although a move would only work if United can help them pay his salary.
Still, the idea of a Sporting return still seems in some ways unimaginable. Presumably it would have to be a loan deal, with Man Utd first having to extend Ronaldo’s contract.
And even if it were a homecoming, is Ronaldo really ready to leave one of Europe’s top five leagues? The Portuguese top flight is the next best, but still not quite at the level one would imagine the ex-Real Madrid legend at.
Still, his options are getting narrower and he’ll soon have to commit one way or another. If he stays in Manchester he needs to fix some bridges.
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