Star dives, United blocks: The big transfer puzzle about Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo wants to leave Manchester United after just one season.

Star dives, United blocks: The big transfer puzzle about Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo wants to leave Manchester United after just one season. The club has other plans and emphasizes that the superstar has a contract and is not for sale. Ronaldo asks for a break in preparation. That raises questions.

Manchester United starts preparing for the new season. And I hope that everything will be much better now. The past season has spoiled the mood of the "Red Devils". Under Ralf Rangnick, qualification for the Champions League was missed in the second half of the season. The English giant fell into European second division, the Europa League. Too little for Man United. Not enough for Cristiano Ronaldo. The 37-year-old still sees the premier class as his natural habitat. And that's why I want to change now.

There is no shortage of mega rumours. The most spectacular, however, was confiscated in no time. The superstar will not switch to Bayern, according to Munich. Ronaldo would not fit the club's transfer strategy. Will anything change in the appreciative rejection should Robert Lewandowski still switch to FC Barcelona? Wait. Also in the rumor distributor: SSC Napoli, AS Roma, FC Chelsea and even Barça, which is badly clammy but has just been flooded with fresh millions. With Naples he could compete in the premier class. The prospects of his sixth handle pot would be rather small. Unlike Chelsea, the Londoners would be a title contender again. A move to Rome would propel Ronaldo into the happy arms of his ex-coach José Mourinho.

Now the situation is like this: Manchester United has no great interest in giving up their superstar after just one season. The club has made corresponding announcements in the past few days. How robust the English "Basta!" is? Not clear. However, there are increasing doubts as to whether Ronaldo and United's second marriage will be a happy one. Unlike between 2003 and 2009, when the Portuguese rose to become a world star and finally switched to Real Madrid as a club legend, the current liaison is characterized by frustration. And obviously not just on the pitch. According to English media reports, the transfer policy should not please him either. With Paul Pogba, the "Red Devils" are losing a gifted and controversial superstar (to Juventus Turin).

The clearest indication that there is so much crunching between the club and the player that the beam on which they are sitting together will soon break is Ronaldo's current time-out. For "family reasons" - which is understandable in view of the tragedy of his son who died a few months ago in childbirth - he decided not to go on the summer tour to Thailand. Apparently he should not travel to Australia either. For the reasons mentioned, he was absent from the national team's first training session under new team manager Erik ten Hag last Monday. Where Ronaldo is currently is not entirely clear. According to media reports, he is said to be staying in his native Portugal.

How it goes on? One thing is clear: it will continue. The "Times" recently reported that the five-time world footballer was convinced that he still had "three to four years" in his tank at the highest level. And United, most recently English champions in 2013, have rarely moved on this in recent years. His departure would leave a huge hole, as he is the only top attacker in the United squad (24 goals in all competitions).

The persistent rumors about the deposited change request and the possible interested parties do not want to match the statements that Ronaldo recently said in a club interview (well, what else should he have said?). The Portuguese announced that he wanted to attack again next season under new coach Erik ten Hag, who came from Ajax Amsterdam. "I wish him the best and I believe we will win trophies next year," said CR7. He's probably changed his mind now. In addition to Lewandowski, Ronaldo is growing into the second major transfer saga of the summer.