Manchester United risk upsetting Cristiano Ronaldo further with plans to replace him as the club’s highest earning player this season.
The Red Devils are continuing their pursuit of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong after the two clubs agreed an initial transfer fee of £56.2million with a total package in the region of £72million. United will not give up on a deal to sign the Dutch international and are confident of a breakthrough in their attempts to sign the midfielder this month.
This coincides with Ronaldo’s determination to depart Old Trafford this summer after not reporting to the club's pre-season tour of Asia due to 'family reasons'. The Portuguese star made his first appearance under new United boss Erik ten Hag on Sunday as the Red Devils were held to a 1-1 draw by Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford.
Having been taken off at the break, Ronaldo was then pictured leaving Old Trafford before the end of the game alongside Diogo Dalot - not part of the squad on the day - heading towards the stadium car park.
Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes has offered him across European clubs this summer but has been unable to find a buyer for the striker. Ronaldo was left "upset" at seeing his pay slashed at United after each member of the squad was hit with a 25 per cent cut to their weekly wage due to their inability to qualify for the Champions League – with the 37-year-old, who is the club's highest earner, seeing the greatest impact on his pay packet.
Having penned a £480,000 per week contract when he returned from Juventus last summer, Ronaldo’s weekly wages have now fallen to £360,000. It has now been claimed in Diario Sport that United’s attempts to land De Jong will see them offer him a weekly wage of £450,000.
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If that report is accurate, it would see the Dutch international earn an eye-catching £90,000 per week more than Ronaldo. That would see Ronaldo’s status within the club take a further hit amid his attempts to seek pastures new.
Ronaldo has been rejected by Atletico Madrid on the grounds that they cannot afford to fund the move due to their financial situation while Real Madrid – where he is the all-time record goal scorer with 450 goals in 438 appearances – have no intention of re-signing him. Even a sensational move to Barcelona was suggested, but the Catalan club have no intention of signing him.
The forward's potential move to Bayern Munich was ruled out by the German giants last month despite suggestions he could replace Robert Lewandowski, whose move to Barcelona was confirmed earlier in July. No other Bundesliga club would be able to finance a deal for Ronaldo.
The Portuguese superstar's options have narrowed down after Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel came out against the idea – making any move to Stamford Bridge extremely unlikely – after new Blues owner Todd Boehly considered launching an extraordinary bid to sign the striker.
The uncertainty over Ronaldo’s future is likely to have an adverse impact on United, who have yet to sign a new attacking player this summer despite Edinson Cavani being among a glut of first-team exits earlier this summer – leaving Ten Hag short on attacking options.
