Eintracht Frankfurt chairman: 'We turned down Cristiano Ronaldo over the summer'

Eintracht Frankfurt CEO Axel Hellman has revealed that his club were offered the opportunity to sign Cristiano Ronaldo over the summer.

The 37-year-old is believed to have informed Manchester United at the start of July of his desire to leave the club in order to continue playing Champions League football.

However, despite weeks of speculation, the Portugal international stayed with the 20-time English champions past the transfer deadline.

Ronaldo found it difficult to make his mark for Man United in the first half of the 2022-23 campaign, only managing three goals and two assists in 16 appearances.

The forward had a contract at Old Trafford until next summer, but he was released by the Red Devils at the end of November following the explosive interview that he gave to Piers Morgan on TalkTV.

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Ronaldo had a frustrating 2022 World Cup, meanwhile, as he was dropped for Portugal's last-16 clash with Switzerland and quarter-final with Morocco.

However, the striker did become the first player to register in five World Cups when he found the back of the net in Portugal's tournament opener with Ghana.

Ronaldo is now a free agent, with the attacker searching for a new club; he is believed to be desperate to continue in Europe, although there is thought to be a lack of offers at this stage.

As a result, a move to Saudi Arabia appears the likeliest outcome at this stage of proceedings.

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Hellman has revealed that Frankfurt were offered the opportunity to sign the number seven over the summer, but the Bundesliga outfit were not interested.

"He was even offered to us," he told DAZN. "I have the feeling he was offered to every Champions League club."

Chelsea and Sporting Lisbon have been linked with Ronaldo, although the former are said to be leaning away from a move, while the latter would struggle to pay his wages.

Ronaldo gave up in the region of £16m in wages by ending his contract with Man United in November, and his exit is likely to force the Red Devils into the January market for a replacement.