Ronaldo leaving Man Utd in January ‘is difficult’, two Serie A teams rule out move amid salary ‘problem’

Lewis Oldham
Ronaldo-Man Utd update

It is being reported that it would be “difficult” for Cristiano Ronaldo to leave Manchester United in January but Jorge Mendes “will try” to make it happen.

The 37-year-old signed a two-year contract when he returned to Man Utd last summer following a spell at Juventus.

The Red Devils struggled last term as they finished down in sixth in the Premier League.

The Champions League is important to Ronaldo and he was keen to leave United in the summer so he could play for a club competing in the competition.

Chelsea were linked with him but they quickly ruled themselves out of the race to bring him in.

Ronaldo did not end up getting his wish to leave so he is sticking with United until January at the earliest.

The attacker missed much of pre-season so he has been playing catch-up in recent weeks.

Erik ten Hag has backed Ronaldo when speaking with the media and he has started their last two Premier League games.

The experienced forward has been subbed off in both games though and Ten Hag has been accused of “disrespecting” him. 

Gianluca Di Marzio has now confirmed that Ronaldo’s agent – Jorge Mendes – “will try” to secure him a move away from Man Utd in January.

“I think Jorge Mendes will try obviously. He didn’t manage to find a solution in the summer,” Di Marzio told wettfreunde.

“It depends on how the relationship will go with Ten Hag and with Manchester United in the months. It’s gotten better.”

Di Marzio went onto reveal that AC Milan and Napoli withdrew their interest in the summer as there “was a problem with salary”.

“It’s difficult for him to move in January because he’s not the kind of player that moves in January but even in this case, it will be important how the World Cup goes,” Di Marzio continued.

“Ronaldo is focused on the World Cup and so we’ll see how he’ll do at the World Cup and also which kind of team can afford his salary because it’s a problem salary.

“Even in Italy when Naples (Napoli) and AC Milan thought about Ronaldo, Jorge Mendes called them it was a problem of salary. No Italian team, no Serie A team will cover his salary. Manchester United will not pay 75-80% of his salary so to pay 75%? They will keep him.

“It depends on a lot of things but I don’t think he’s the kind of player that can move in January. Cristiano Ronaldo is not the kind of player that during the season leaves his team but it’s early to say now because it depends on how it’s going at Manchester United and the World Cup.”

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