Cristiano Ronaldo will reportedly stay put at Manchester United even if they miss out on Champions League football for next season.
According to The Telegraph, Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will not leave the club in the summer. Ronaldo plans to see out his contract at Old Trafford even if United fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season.
Ronaldo secured a sensational return to Manchester United last summer, re-signing from Juventus on a two-year contract. Manchester City were pushing to sign the Portuguese maverick, which prompted the Red Devils to intervene and bring the club icon back to Old Trafford.
Ronaldo enjoyed a stunning start to life back in England, netting two goals on his second debut against Newcastle United. He soon became an integral figure for the team, bailing them out of difficult situations with crucial strikes, even though there was a lot of criticism surrounding his return.
However, Ronaldo’s form has suffered a massive dip since the turn of the year, with the run coinciding with the team’s struggles as well. While he showed signs of finding form with a match-winning hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, he was poor in midweek against Atletico Madrid as they eliminated Manchester United from the UEFA Champions League.
Keep working ?? pic.twitter.com/a9juDBFehE
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) March 1, 2022
With Manchester United also dropping out of the top four in the Premier League, there is a chance that they miss out on Champions League football next season. Ronaldo is believed to have made it clear to the club hierarchy at the time of his signing that his main ambition is to win the coveted trophy for the sixth time in his career, which might not happen if United fail to finish fourth this season.
At the same time, there have been a lot of rumours about a rift in the dressing room between Ronaldo and captain Harry Maguire, which has only added fuel to the fire. It has sparked speculation over the future of Ronaldo at Old Trafford.
However, it is now being claimed that the 37-year-old will stay put at the club and honour his contract even if he misses out on Champions League football for the first time in twenty years. The superstar is confident that a new manager and a good transfer window can help Manchester United get back on track for the next season.
Manchester United can also ill-afford to lose their Portuguese legend in the summer as they are already set to lose Edinson Cavani and Jesse Lingard. With Mason Greenwood no longer considered for selection and Marcus Rashford pondering his future at Old Trafford, the Red Devils will be short of numbers in the attacking department if Ronaldo also decides to leave.
