Man United ready to give Cristiano Ronaldo free transfer despite lack of interest

Manchester United have not sparked any interest in Cristiano Ronaldo despite having made him available on a free transfer since the summer, sources have told ESPN.

Ronaldo will miss Saturday’s Premier League game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after being let go by manager Erik ten Hag as punishment for refusing to play as a substitute in Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Tottenham at Old Trafford.

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The former Real Madrid and Juventus striker also angered Ten Hag by leaving the substitutes’ bench before the end of the game to go to the dressing room and leave the stadium without the manager’s permission.

After being criticized by Ten Hag in July for returning home in the pre-season friendly against Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford, Ronaldo’s latest display of indiscipline has raised the prospect of the Portugal international leaving United in January .

But sources have told ESPN that the United hierarchy, led by American owners of the Glazer family, have been willing to offload Ronaldo since he made it clear he wanted to leave the club this summer.

After signing Ronaldo in a €15million deal from Juventus in August 2021, sources have said United have not asked for a fee for the player in hopes another club would be ready to accept his £500,000-a-week deal.

But apart from interest from Saudi side Al-Hilal, United have had no investigation into Ronaldo, even ambitious and well-funded teams in Turkey have proved unsympathetic to the prospect of signing a player who has worn the club’s goal tally to 700 with its strike against Everton earlier this month.

Sources have said there is hope at Old Trafford that the clubs could become potential options for Ronaldo if he enjoys a productive World Cup with Portugal in Qatar next month. And with six months remaining on his contract with United, it’s also possible that Ronaldo could be loaned out in January if another club is willing to agree a deal to pay part of his wages.

But with his 38th birthday approaching in February and just two goals in all competitions for United this season, Ronaldo is struggling to attract interest from clubs who could offer him an escape at Old Trafford in January.