Cristiano Ronaldo may be about to find himself an Old Trafford route, with Napoli said to be ‘pushing’ for his signature.
Reports emerged in July that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was keen to quit Manchester United this summer due to the club’s lack of Champions League football after they finished a disappointing sixth last season.
Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has been tirelessly trying to drum up interest in his client ever since, though a whole host of clubs across the continent have ruled out making a move for the 37-year-old.
Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSG, Chelsea and Marseille have all decided against making a move for the forward, leaving very few viable options for the veteran.
However, according to the Manchester Evening News, Serie A side Napoli could provide an exit route ahead of this week’s transfer deadline.
They say that the Neopolitan club have held talks with Mendes, and are ‘eyeing a permanent deal’, though they ‘are prepared to settle for a loan deal’ given the lack of time available.
Despite his public comments that he is planning with Ronaldo, the report says that Erik ten Hag ‘has been open to letting Ronaldo leave for weeks’, though the club’s joint-owner, Joel Glazer, has so far ‘resisted any sale’, likely due to the forward’s commercial value.
Ronaldo has started just one of United’s four games so far this season – the 4-0 loss to Brentford – with the striker’s profile looking at odds to Ten Hag’s demands for a pressing style of play.
United have been linked with Cody Gakpo, Memphis Depay and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as they look to bolster their front line, and have also agreed an £85m deal for Ajax’s Antony.
