Why Does Cristiano Ronaldo Want to Leave Manchester United?
Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United has been a disaster.
Despite scoring 24 goals in 38 matches in all competitions, Ronaldo made United worse. They endured their worst season in Premier League history, finishing sixth with their lowest lowest-ever points total.
United, as a result, missed out on qualifying for the Champions League, a competition Ronaldo adores. No player has won the competition more times (five), made more appearances (187) or scored more goals (141).
With his glorious career getting closer to the end, it seems the 37-year-old is not prepared to drop down into the Europa League and risk his records being overtaken.
So is Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Manchester United? And if so, which club is Cristiano Ronaldo going to?
We’ve analysed the latest transfer window betting odds to try and find out…
Ronaldo to Stay at Manchester United
The most likely outcome, according to the bookies, is that Cristiano Ronaldo remains at Manchester United.
He might have asked to leave, but there doesn’t seem to be any clubs who are especially interested in signing him.
It’s easy to see why.
Despite remaining a prolific goalscorer, Ronaldo’s age, big wages and even bigger ego makes him a player that elite clubs no longer want to build their team around.
But new United manager Erik ten Hag does, having said so in public several times already.
If Ronaldo can stomach playing in the Europa League, it could well be that his best bet is to see out the remaining year of his contract at the Theatre of Dreams.
Ronaldo to Go to Chelsea
If Ronaldo does leave United, then his most-likely destination is Chelsea.
The Blues can offer him the Champions League football that he craves, while new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is reportedly keen on signing one of world’s best and most-marketable footballers.
It remains to be seen whether Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel shares Boehly’s enthusiasm or if United would be prepared to sell to a Premier League rival.
But it’s easy to see these issues being resolved if there’s enough willpower.
Ronaldo could force United to enter negotiations by refusing to play, while Tuchel might decide it’s in his best interests to indulge his new boss if Boehly is keen to crown his new tenure with the ultimate glamour signing.
Ronaldo to Go to Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich is probably the club Ronaldo would like to sign for. He’d be almost guaranteed to win a league title, as well as challenge for the Champions League.
From Bayern’s perspective, he would be a like-for-like replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who is determined to leave the club and join Barcelona.
But any move seems unlikely, with Bayern CEO saying recently that signing Ronaldo “wouldn’t be a fit with our philosophy”.
That could change, however, if Lewandowski gets his move to Barcelona and Bayern are in need of a striker at short notice.
Ronaldo to Go to Sporting Lisbon
A return to Sporting Lisbon, the club where Ronaldo started his career, would be a romantic end to his career.
But it wouldn’t make a lot of sense.
While Sporting are more likely to challenge for domestic honours than United – they finished second in last season’s Primeira Liga and won the title the season before – they are unable to pay Ronaldo’s extortionate wages and are unlikely to get out of the Champions League group stages.
All odds are subject to change