On Saturday night, Manchester United fans were sent into panic over the news that Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to leave the club this summer. Though reports had emerged over the past few weeks that his agent Jorge Mendes had sounded out potential suitors in Chelsea and Bayern Munich, this was the first clear indication that the forward definitively wants to leave after the club had failed to achieve Champions League football last season.
The Manchester Evening News understands that United still state that Ronaldo is not for sale and he is under contract till 2023, but as the Portuguese forward showed at Juventus if he wants to leave he likely will do. Therefore the club and Erik ten Hag need to consider replacements.
With the transfer market in full swing, however, there are limited options available to United. And given players like Tammy Abraham and Victor Osimhen will be expensive, Ten Hag may have to look at his existing options for a solution.
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Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial have had great seasons for United in the past, but the 2021/22 campaign was catastrophic for both. Neither painted themselves in glory and they will have to do a lot to reclaim their place under Ten Hag.
Rashford never seemed to recover fully from his surgery and Martial could not find any form, despite a change of scenery with a loan to La Liga outfit Sevilla. But if Ronaldo was to leave could their futures lie in the number nine position?
Both players have played there in the past, though in more recent years they have been deployed as mainly left-wingers, but under the tutelage of Ten Hag could thrive. If they don't however, this could be the last chance saloon for both.
United fans are split over the prospect of the club's striking options being Rashford and Martial; some would like to see the pair given a chance while others think that going into the season with them would be writing it off before it even started. These are a selection of the comments taken from Twitter:
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