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Man United box Ronaldo to a tight corner

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Cristiano Ronaldo taken by surprise as Man Utd offer alternative transfer exit option. According to Mirror newspaper, the club has been adamant that Cristiano Ronaldo is not for sale – but could now make an exception to ensure he can play in the Champions League before returning next summer.

Manchester United are ready to let Ronaldo leave this summer – but only on-loan.

And in return they want the 37-year-old superstar to trigger a one-year-option clause to EXTEND his contract so he can return to Old Trafford next summer for a final swansong – hopefully in the Champions League.

Ronaldo has asked to leave this summer to play Champions League football next season and has still not returned to training after being granted time off for personal family reasons.

But in recent talks with the striker’s agent Jorges Mendes, it’s understood United asked Ronaldo to consider taking up the one year option that was available to both sides and part of his agreement when he joined from Juventus in a £12.9 million deal a year ago.

United would then sanction a one-season loan deal to a Champions League club in Europe – with Atletico Madrid interested in the Portuguese goal machine.

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Ronaldo would then return to Old Trafford next summer to see out a final campaign – with United hopeful they may be in a position to challenge for a Champions League place this season.

Senior United officials aren’t banking on a successful first year under new Dutch boss Erik ten Hag, but there’s an expectation that they should be able to compete for a top four finish.

That would offer Ronaldo the chance to extend his Champions League love affair with one more season in Europe’s elite competition before a final hurrah, possibly in the MLS in America.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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