Cristiano Ronaldo is attempting to seal an exit from Manchester United having dropped a transfer bombshell.
The Portuguese forward has requested to leave the club less than 12 months after securing an emotional return to Old Trafford. The Red Devils' underwhelming showings on the pitch last season - as well as their lack of business in the transfer market - have been signalled as prime reasons for the striker’s desire to leave.
Whilst his transfer request will leave a bitter taste in the mouth of supporters, the 37-year-old is not the first to attempt to force his way out of the club.
Mirror Sport looks at some of the more recent examples of players who have attempted to quit Man United.
Cristiano Ronaldo
It's a case of been there, done that for Ronaldo as he once again attempts to wave goodbye to the Red Devils. Having transformed himself into one of the world’s best players during his previous spell with United, the forward was continually linked with a switch to Real Madrid.
Fresh off the back of a 42-goal season in 2008, interest from the Santiago Bernabeu triggered a bitter war of words between a number of parties with then FIFA president Sepp Blatter also getting involved.
Ronaldo originally was reported to be interested in a move to Madrid but stopped short of confirming that publicly. It was only when he agreed with Blatter's infamous 'slavery' comment that things threatened to turn sour.
Following discussions with the club and Sir Alex Ferguson, the Portuguese elected to remain at Old Trafford for another year before sealing what was then a world record transfer in 2009.
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Wayne Rooney
Another club icon, Wayne Rooney could have left United on a number of occasions in the past with Premier League rivals Manchester City and Chelsea linked.
Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed in a press conference that the England icon had requested to leave Old Trafford in October 2010. That fact was confirmed by the striker’s representatives with a difference in ambition signalled as the prime reason behind his desire to leave. Despite that - and rumours of a switch to the Etihad Stadium - Rooney then performed a dramatic u-turn by penning a new five-year deal.
That was not the end of the story for Rooney and Man Utd though as he once again got itchy feet in the summer of 2013. Amid another contract dispute, he was linked with switches to Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid with the new Red Devils boss David Moyes insisting that he wasn’t for sale.
Once more, Rooney made the decision to commit his future to the club and remained a Man Utd player until 2017 as he sealed an emotional return to Everton. He went on to represent DC United and Derby County in the closing years of his career before becoming manager of the Rams - only departing earlier this year amid the chaos of the club’s protracted takeover process.
Gabriel Heinze
One of the more infamous transfer fallings-out from Old Trafford over recent seasons, the former Paris Saint-Germain man attempted to force through a switch to bitter rivals Liverpool back in 2007.
The Red Devils' player of the year only two years before, the Argentine had lost his place in the side due to injury with the signing of Patrice Evra seeing game time even more limited. The Reds were interested in a deal but Ferguson ruled out a move out of hand.
It then got even messier with Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan detailing that Crystal Palace could potentially have played a role in signing Heinze and then immediately selling him on to Liverpool. Liverpool then called in the assistance of lawyers in an attempt to get a deal with United even threatening to investigate the actions of Heinze's representatives.
The defender did of course eventually get his move but instead of Anfield, his next destination was Spain and Real Madrid. He eventually went on to play for Marseille, Roma and Newell’s Old Boys but has expressed regret over how his Old Trafford exit panned out.
Angel di Maria
Another Argentine, another transfer saga. The former Real Madrid star was a stunning signing for the Red Devils in the summer of 2014, with Louis van Gaal aiming to bolster his options ahead of his first season in charge.
It started off extremely promisingly, too, with Di Maria netting a stunning goal against Leicester City. His performances soon deteriorated though as the winger became disillusioned with life in Manchester.
United boss Van Gaal confirmed just a year after his arrival that the Argentine missed his flight for the Red Devils’ pre-season tour in the United States.
Just a week-and-a-half later, Di Maria was gone having signed for French giants Paris Saint-Germain, with United having lost £15m on his signature in just 12 months. He has only just ended his spell in Ligue 1 and is expected to sign for Juventus on a free transfer.
