Atletico Madrid have ruled themselves out of a move for Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese superstar is keen on leaving Old Trafford this summer after becoming frustrated at the way the club is run. And with the club not playing in the Champions League next season, the 37-year-old wants to transfer to a club that is playing in the UCL.
His agent Jorge Mendes had tried negotiating a deal for him with a number of European clubs with Chelsea and Bayern Munich among the clubs he reportedly met. But both clubs had distanced themselves from a move for him.
Ronaldo’s options decreased again yesterday when Atletico president Enrique Cerezo said his club could not afford the striker.
Talking to Spanish radio via Sportsmail, Cerezo said: ‘I don’t know who invented this story about Cristiano Ronaldo to Atletico Madrid.
“It’s not true. It’s practically impossible for him to come to Atletico Madrid.”
Ronaldo returned to United on Tuesday after missing the club’s 17-day tour of Thailand and Australia on compassionate leave.
According to reports, he held showdown talks with new manager Erik ten Hag, their first meeting since he told the club he wanted to leave.
The Red Devils have maintained that they do not want to sell the star forward who still has a year left on his £360,000-a-week contract at Old Trafford.
Despite wanting out, the Portuguese has vowed to remain professional as talks over his future continue.
He was part of Manchester United’s tour debrief on Tuesday and proved his willingness to remain professional when he joined his teammates plus summer signings Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen for Ten Hag’s 90-minute analysis of their recent tour of Thailand and Australia.
