Ronaldo issues one-word response to transfer speculation
As the saga continues over his efforts to engineer an exit from Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo has shut down one particular rumor regarding his options for a new club.
Ronaldo has been training back home in Portugal rather than joining up with the Manchester United squad for their preseason tour in Thailand and Australia, after telling the Old Trafford club that he is desperate for a move to play Champions League football next season.
Reports have since claimed that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has been rejected by the likes of Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich after agent Jorge Mendes offered his services.
A recent report emerged in Ronaldo’s homeland suggesting he could make a shock switch to boyhood club Sporting Lisbon – where he started his professional career before first moving to Manchester United as a teenager.
News outlet Sport TV Portugal shared a social media post which apparently showed a car belonging to Ronaldo in the parking lot of the Estadio Jose Alvalade, which is Sporting’s home stadium.
“[Sporing fans] with more hope of signing Cristiano Ronaldo,” read the message.
Responding in the comments, Ronaldo gave short shrift to the rumors, simply writing “fake.”
Cristiano Ronaldo: "Fake." pic.twitter.com/Pi8WK4Z3DG
— FutbolArena (@futbolarena) July 17, 2022
While the striker’s boyhood team can be ruled out, Spanish outlet Diario AS has reported that a move to Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid could be an option for the star.
That is unlikely to go down well with fans at Real Madrid, whom Ronaldo famously helped to four Champions League titles during his time at the club.
Elsewhere, it has been suggested that snubs from the likes of Chelsea, PSG and Bayern will have dented Ronaldo’s claims to still be one of the world’s best despite his advancing years.
The 37-year-old was top scorer for Manchester United last season as the team labored to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League.
The Portuguese ace still has one year left on his current deal at Old Trafford, and new United manager Erik ten Hag has insisted that the forward is not for sale and is very much part of his plans.
