Manchester United are facing a huge battle to keep Cristiano Ronaldo after the superstar striker told senior bosses he wants to leave.
And reports are emerging that he wanted to quit in JANUARY after quickly discovering he'd made a huge mistake in re-joining United.
The 37-year-old Portuguese goal-machine – in his second spell at Old Trafford after joining in a £12 million deal from Juventus a year ago – has told the club he wants Champions League football as the end of his career draws near to a close.
United insisted on Saturday night they have no intention of selling Ronaldo and expect him to honour his contract, which has a year remaining.
However, Ronaldo wants United to respect their long history by allowing him to leave if an acceptable offer comes in from a club competing in the Champions League next season.
United, who are in the Europa League next season after a disastrous campaign, can't offer that as new boss Erik ten Hag starts a rebuild at the club who haven't won the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Ronaldo is said to have been been "shocked and disappointed" at United's implosion since his return.
And wants to bring a quick end to his return to the club despite having a year left on his deal.
The trophy-driven star re-joined because he believed United would kick on last season and challenge for the title.
He decided to leave Juventus and return to Manchester believing the club's ambitions matched his own massive appetite for success.
He insists he has delivered on his side of the bargain – but believes United's players and bosses have let him down
The attacker quickly discovered United were a club in free fall – and sources close to the player say he wanted to quit as early as January but was talked out of creating a scene.
Ronaldo – leading scorer for United last season – has never played in the Europa League.
And he's said to want to keep alive his record of 19 consecutive Champions League seasons since he signed for Ferguson as a teenager from Sporting Lisbon in 2003.
Ronaldo is still fiercely competitive and wants trophies as the end of his iconic career enters its final years.
He's made 183 appearances in Europe's elite competition scoring 140 goals along the way with 42 assists to make him arguably the greatest player in Champions League history.
Chelsea and Bayern Munich have shown interest in Ronaldo recently although the striker still has another year left on his deal with the option of another year on top.
Ronaldo is fiercely protective of his legacy at the club where he is seen as one of their greatest players of all time.
Quitting to go to a Premier League rival like Chelsea would tarnish that legacy – but his options elsewhere are running out.
PSG have re-signed Kylian M'bappe, Manchester City have signed Erling Haaland while Bayern Munich have snapped up Sadio Mane from Liverpool.
However, with ten Hag starting a new revolution at Old Trafford United might well view Ronaldo's desire to leave as eradicating a problem for their new manager.
The stumbling block is that United have no big funds for a new striker – and Ronaldo could guarantee them another 20 goals next season.
