Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim has admitted that Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo returning to the club is a "dream" but they can't afford his wages.
The saga surrounding the 37-year-old has intensified since Erik ten Hag took over at Old Trafford. Ronaldo has found playing time hard to come by despite finishing as the club's top goalscorer last season.
In the summer, Ronaldo handed in a transfer request as he looked to swap United for a Champions League club, however, nothing came to fruition and he remained in Manchester. He has made eight Premier League appearances this season but has been handed just two starts.
READ MORE: United squad impressed by Ten Hag handling of Ronaldo situation
During the Reds ' 2-0 win over Tottenham last week, Ronaldo refused to come on and made his way down the tunnel before full-time. As a result, United boss Ten Hag dropped the former Real Madrid and Juventus attacker from the squad for the trip to Chelsea.
Speaking ahead of their crunch Champions League clash with Tottenham, Amorim was asked about the possibility of making a move for Ronaldo.
He told reporters: "I don't know. Ronaldo is a top player, a Manchester United player. Everyone in Sporting dreams of the return of Cristiano, so I don't want to speak about that. He's a Manchester United player, a top player, and he will be for a few months.
"I'll answer the same way because a lot of journalists ask me the same question. He [Ronaldo] is a Manchester United player. Everybody in Sporting dreams of the return for Cristiano but we don't have the money to pay his wages. I think he's happy in Manchester but he's not playing so that's the problem.
"I have my problems with some of Sporting's players so it's [Erik] Ten Hag's problem, I'm very happy with my players - no problem at all. At the moment I just want to beat Tottenham. "
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