It's looking more and more likely that Cristiano Ronaldo will be looking for a speedy exit from Manchester United, and MLS side Inter Miami may well do all they can to bring the 37-year-old to the United States.
Ronaldo was a furious figure on Wednesday night as he stormed down the tunnel before the final whistle as United beat Tottenham 2-0 at Old Trafford. The Portuguese star was aggrieved that he was not involved in the game, and decided to take off after learning he would not be brought on by Erik ten Hag.
United have since dropped Ronaldo from their squad to face Chelsea on Saturday, and Mirror Football understands that in the aftermath of the incident Ronaldo was slapped with a fine in the region of £1million and banned from first-team training for at least three days. Ronaldo is likely to push for a move elsewhere, and Miami now need a new designated player.
Ronaldo only re-joined United 13 months ago, but the honeymoon period never really lasted, and it's been a rather sour return at times. It looked likely that Ronaldo would leave in the summer, but the 37-year-old remained at the club for the season ahead.
But Ronaldo's relationship with Ten Hag now looks beyond repair, and with options limited in the summer, the Portuguese star may now look to escape Europe in order to continue his career. Ronaldo's former team-mate Gonzalo Higuain's career came to an end on Tuesday, as Miami were dumped out of the MLS play-offs, and they now have a big hole to fill.
Higuain was adored in Miami, with the Argentine striker filling a DP position at the franchise owned by David Beckham. But now that his locker is empty, it opens the door for another big star to fill the void. Miami were previously tipped to make a move for the Portuguese icon, but decided they would only be able to do so if he joined on a free. Now, however, that could become a reality.
There aren't many bigger stars that Ronaldo, and if Miami were to make him their new DP, they'd have free reign to offer him a bumper contract. Ronaldo may see his minutes limited with United, but he still has perhaps his final World Cup to prepare for between now and the end of the year.
And that may suit Ronaldo, as although he is in excellent condition, he can reset and recharge even after the World Cup, as the new MLS season won't begin until a few months after the competition ends in December. Ronaldo has made it clear until now that he wants to continue playing in the Champions League, but it that isn't available to him, Miami may be the most attractive option.
Ronaldo would undoubtedly be the biggest star to step foot in MLS, which is saying something as Kaka, Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have all stepped foot before him. Even former team-mate Gareth Bale is over in Los Angeles, as MLS stock continues to rise.
For now though, Ronaldo is keen to focus his attention back on United, as the striker released a statement after news broke that he had been isolated from the squad. "As I’ve always done throughout my career, I try to live and play respectfully towards my colleagues, my adversaries and my coaches," the statement reads.
"That hasn’t changed. I haven’t changed. I’m the same person and the same professional that I’ve been for the last 20 years playing elite football, and respect has always played a very important role in my decision making process.
"I started very young, the older and most experienced players examples were always very important to me. Therefore, later on, I’ve always tried to set the example myself for the youngsters that grew in all the teams that I’ve represented. Unfortunately that’s not always possible and sometimes the heat of the moment get’s the best of us.
"Right now, I just feel that I have to keep working hard in Carrington, support my teammates and be ready for everything in any given game. Giving in to the pressure is not an option. It never was. This is Manchester United, and united we must stand. Soon we’ll be together again."
