Manchester United has no intention of pursuing a third stint for Cristiano Ronaldo, according to recent reports from TEAMtalk, effectively quashing speculation of a dramatic homecoming for the Portuguese icon.
Despite the 40-year-old’s current professional turbulence at Al-Nassr, the Red Devils’ leadership remains committed to their current squad-building strategy under the INEOS-led sporting department.
Ronaldo, who has spearheaded the “Knights of Najd” since December 2022, reportedly finds himself at a crossroads in Riyadh as he evaluates his future amid internal disputes regarding the club’s recent transfer activity.
During his tenure at Al-Awwal Park, the five-time Ballon d’Or recipient has maintained his status as one of football’s most prolific finishers, recently surpassing the 100-goal milestone for the Saudi side. This achievement marks the fourth time in his illustrious career that he has netted a century of goals for a single club, adding to his tallies at Real Madrid, Juventus, and Manchester United. However, despite signing a lucrative contract extension last year intended to secure his services until June 2027, Ronaldo has recently voiced significant dissatisfaction with the Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) management of the league’s financial resources.
The tension reached a boiling point this week when the club captain reportedly went on strike, refusing to participate in Al-Nassr’s 1-0 victory over Al-Riyadh. Sources suggest Ronaldo is frustrated by the perceived lack of investment in his squad compared to the aggressive spending of PIF-owned rivals like Al-Hilal, who recently secured the signing of Karim Benzema. While the Portuguese star continues to command a staggering annual salary exceeding $225 million, he believes the lack of top-tier reinforcements threatens the club’s ability to compete for major silverware.
Despite the player’s apparent availability, senior executives at Manchester United have definitively closed the door on a potential reunion at Old Trafford. The club is reportedly wary of revisiting a relationship that ended in a highly publicized and acrimonious split over three years ago. The fallout, which followed a controversial television interview with Piers Morgan in which Ronaldo attacked the club’s infrastructure and management, remains a significant hurdle that the current administration has no interest in overcoming.
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