Official: Cristiano Ronaldo stays at Man Utd - Ten Hag
Suraj Radia
- 1 Sept 2022 04:00 BST
- 3 min read
Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo will remain at Manchester United this summer after months of speculation surrounding his future.
Ronaldo had informed United officials of his desire to leave for Champions League football at the start of the summer but the Portuguese international has struggled to find any clubs willing to sign him.
Ten Hag insisted to reporters that he and Ronaldo 'are on one page' and that the 37-year-old had accepted 'several times' that he would be staying at Old Trafford.
“From the start we said we’d plan with him," Ten Hag said. "I think we are happy with him, he’s happy to be here and we want to make this season a success together."
Ten Hag was also asked about his system and whether Ronaldo was receptive to his tactics, to which he replied: “Yes. Clear. That’s why we’re talking. I said we are on one page and he knows what the demand is.
"He will fit in because he’s – I don’t have to explain – a great player. He has great capabilities, so he will fit in every system or in every style.”
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Ronaldo's rollercoaster summer
Ronaldo was initially desperate to leave United this summer and his agent Jorge Mendes had touted his services to dozens of clubs including Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.
Despite some clubs registering a tentative interest, most teams accepted that signing Ronaldo would be financially difficult due to his high wages.
United initially held firm in their briefing that offers for Ronaldo would not be considered but they altered their stance following their dismal start to the season which saw them lose their first two Premier League games.
🗣️ "We want to make the season a success together."
Erik ten Hag says Cristiano Ronaldo accepts he's at Manchester United until at least January 🔴📅pic.twitter.com/W4ftXCcMGW— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 31, 2022
Some figures at the club felt that selling Ronaldo would lift the spirits of the dressing room due to his negative impact around the training ground.
However, United's win over Liverpool and the £70 million signing of Casemiro encouraged Ronaldo and the investment, coupled with the lack of interest in him, meant he was more willing to reconsider his options.
Ronaldo has come off the bench in three of United's four games this season as he looks to gain fitness after missing the majority of his side's pre-season campaign.
