Gary Neville has told Cristiano Ronaldo he ought to meet with Manchester United chiefs and Erik ten Hag to try and orchestrate an exit for himself in January.
The attacker was dropped for Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea after heading down the Old Trafford tunnel before the end of the game with Tottenham on Wednesday after being benched. He has since been training on his own.
He took to Instagram last week to release a statement, in which he admitted “the heat of the moment” got to him and recommitted his support for the squad. Erik ten Hag said he would speak to Ronaldo before deciding whether to infiltrate him back into the fold.
Neville believes the best course of action would be for United to ultimately let him go in January. He encouraged him to speak to CEO Richard Arnold and director John Murtough, as well as Ten Hag, to try and agree an amicable departure.
Speaking on his podcast, he said: “The best thing for him to do this week is to go in and see Richard Arnold, John Murtough, Erik ten Hag, call a meeting and say ‘my time’s up here. Let me go to the World Cup, let me leave in January and choose a club of my choice.’
“We don’t want this messy ending to something that could be so great, which is Ronaldo ’s relationship and feeling about the club and vice versa. I get Cristiano’s point as well but there’s a way to go about it.
“He needs to end it now, for both parties. It can’t go beyond January 1.” Ronaldo has started just twice in the Premier League all season, his sole goal in the competition coming against Everton earlier this month.
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