Report reveals Ronaldo irritation at clause ‘written into his contract’ at Man Utd

Cristiano Ronaldo was irked by the insistence from Man Utd that he had to honour a clause in his contract after they missed out on the top four last season, according to reports.

Widespread reports claim that the Portugal international has asked to leave the club this summer with both Erik ten Hag and Ronaldo remaining fairly silent on the issue.

The initial stance from the Red Devils was to hang on to Ronaldo at all costs but recently the club and Ten Hag have grown tired of the situation.

It is now understood that Ten Hag would be happy to see Ronaldo leave with Man Utd’s owners also prepared to sanction the right transfer.

The 37-year-old wants to play in the Champions League this season with Man Utd unable to offer the competition after finishing a disappointing sixth in the Premier League last term.

Ronaldo was criticised for some of his performances last campaign but he will feel he did his bit by scoring 24 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions.

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The Times claims that Man Utd ‘expected him to accept a 25 per cent paycut written into his contract for a season without Champions League football’ but Ronaldo apparently considered it ‘insult to the injury’ of missing out.

After Ronaldo was given an extended break while Man Utd were on their pre-season tour ‘a number of senior figures were enlisted to convince him to give Ten Hag’s “new” United a chance, [Sir Alex] Ferguson among them. Ronaldo hadn’t shifted an inch’.

Ronaldo, who is used to getting his way as one of the best players of all time, thought at the time that Man Utd ‘should help facilitate his departure’ and Ten Hag eventually ‘changed his position’ after a 4-0 thumping from Brentford.

There were reports that he was close to a move to Sporting Lisbon last week, while there have been claims he could also be involved in some kind of huge swap deal for Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.

Former Man Utd midfielder and current Reading boss Paul Ince claims he and Roy Keane wouldn’t have “put up with” Ronaldo’s “antics”.

“Roy Keane and I would have never put up with Cristiano Ronaldo’s antics,” Ince told BoyleSports.

“Cristiano Ronaldo has to leave Man United. If he was in the Man United dressing room when I was playing with the likes of Roy Keane and Steve Bruce, we wouldn’t be putting up with him and he wouldn’t be getting away with anything.

“Leaving Ronaldo out of the starting 11 was so important because it shows people that there can be life without Ronaldo. He’s been a distraction for everyone at Man United. He hasn’t had the desired effect that everyone thought he would and you wouldn’t see Lionel Messi acting the way he has at times.”