Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes expects to see Cristiano Ronaldo back at pre-season training as planned after private chats with his teammate amid links with a move away.
The Portuguese superstar arrived back at Old Trafford last summer as he completed an emotional return from Juventus. Despite excellent personal contributions, it was a thoroughly underwhelming season for the side having missed out on Champions League football via a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League.
That initially put Ronaldo’s long-term commitment at Old Trafford into huge doubt, whilst the club’s hesitancy in the transfer market also reportedly led to more complaints from the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. However, Fernandes has suggested he does not believe the Red Devils would be willing to sell his compatriot and he has had no indication he wants to leave.
Juventus, Chelsea and AS Roma all having been linked with Ronaldo over the past few weeks but Fernandes is anticipating a reunion in pre-season ahead of Erik ten Hag's first season in charge.
Fernandes told Portuguese outlet Record that he last spoke to him a few weeks ago before and said: "I spoke to him a few weeks ago - we're both on vacation, no one bothers friends on vacation - I hope to meet him on the fourth to train there [at Manchester United ], I'm not expecting more than that.
“There is nothing more than that, but each one takes care of their future. I don't believe that the club is willing to lose a player of the value of Cristiano."
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One further destination that has been mooted for Ronaldo should he leave United this summer is Sporting Clube de Portugal. Of course, he started his professional career with the Portuguese outfit and has regularly been linked with a switch back to his homeland.
Whilst Fernandes has claimed that he expects his teammate to remain as a Red Devil for the coming season, he - alongside supporters - is tempted by the prospect of Ronaldo strutting his stuff in Lisbon once more.
He continued: "It would be a great moment for the sportinguistas, almost everyone expects that; I would like that to happen.
“He has the ambition to continue playing for many years, we will see what he will decide - I hope - when his contract with United ends, but the ambition and dream of sportinguistas would be to see Ronaldo playing for Sporting.”
Ronaldo originally signed a two-year contract to return to Man Utd last summer, the Red Devils paying an initial £12.9m plus a further £6.9m in add-ons. He scored 24 goals in his first season back with the club - by far and away the Red Devils’ top scorer. Fernandes himself came second with ten strikes to his name in all competitions.
