Manchester, United Kingdom – Cristiano Ronaldo arrived at the Manchester United training ground with his agent on Tuesday as the Portuguese player’s future with the English club is still up in the air.
Ronaldo has yet to start preparatory training with United – he has missed the team’s tours of Thailand and Australia – and is expected to speak with newly appointed coach Erik Ten Hag.
Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, is pictured in the car being driven by Ronaldo as he enters United’s training center in Carrington.
Britain’s Sky Sports News reported that Alex Ferguson, the former Manchester United manager who signed Ronaldo during the player’s first spell at the club from 2003 to 2009, arrived at Carrington earlier today. Ferguson played an influential role in persuading Ronaldo to return to United last year.
Ronaldo, 37, would like to play for another team after just one year at Old Trafford, with United neither in the Champions League this season nor in a position to compete with the best teams in England. United finished last season in sixth place in the league, 35 points behind first-placed Manchester City.
United said Ronaldo had not yet returned to training for “personal reasons”. Ten Hag has repeatedly said that he is counting on Ronaldo to make up the squad this season.
If United allow Ronaldo to move to another club, they will leave the Hague ten fewer midfielders in their squad and have just over a month left in the summer transfer window in Europe to try to attract a replacement.
In Ronaldo’s absence, Anthony Martial played up front and impressed in the pre-season round, scoring three goals in four matches.
Martial spent the second half of last season on loan to Sevilla, scoring one goal that could represent an unlikely second chance for the French striker.
Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani was one of the players to leave United during the slump with his contract expiring.
United have been linked with the signing of Ajax striker Anthony.
