The English newspaper "Sunday Mirror," which is close to Manchester United's management, revealed that the general direction at the club is to allow Portuguese international star Cristiano Ronaldo to leave next summer. It stated that the club officials will not stand in the way of his departure, and many of them would be happy if it happens. Sources from the club told the newspaper that officials admit their mistake in accepting Ronaldo's return last summer, as they did not expect the situation within the team to deteriorate into chaos and divisions in the dressing room. Additionally, the club is not pleased with continuing to pay the highest salary in England, around half a million pounds a week, to Ronaldo without achieving tangible results.
Ronaldo has faced a decline in form and a scarcity of goals this year, managing only 15 goals across all competitions since the start of the season, with just one goal this year against Brighton last week. Reports from English media also highlight issues related to conflicts among players, some frustrations regarding the advantages Ronaldo receives, along with accusations of "selfishness," and the ongoing dispute between him and current team captain Harry Maguire over the "captaincy," as well as a lack of clear understanding with new German coach Rangnick.
Furthermore, "The Express" reported that three players would be very happy if Ronaldo (37 years old) leaves next summer. The first is his compatriot Bruno Fernandes, who has seen a decline in his goal-scoring rate due to focusing on playing for Ronaldo. Last season, he scored 28 goals in all competitions and provided 17 assists, but now his focus has shifted to passing to Ronaldo. The second player is Maguire, who has lost prominence and has had a conflict with Ronaldo regarding who should wear the captain's armband, thus becoming less impactful in leading the team with Ronaldo receiving all the attention. The third is Marcus Rashford, who has become a "shadow" beside Ronaldo, experiencing many bench appearances and a significant drop in his goals compared to previous seasons, having scored only five goals and provided two assists, compared to 21 goals and 15 assists last season.
The newspaper further indicates that the same might be true for several other forwards, including Uruguayan Edinson Cavani, Frenchman Martial (on loan at Sevilla), and young player Jadon Sancho. It is noted that Manchester United currently occupies fourth place in the Premier League standings and faces a tough match today against Leeds United, trailing third-place Chelsea by seven points and first-place City by twenty points.
