Transfer Centre

Cristiano Ronaldo 'willing to take pay cut to leave Manchester United'

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 25 July 2022

Ronaldo 'willing to take pay cut to leave Man United'

Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly prepared to take a wage cut to force through a move away from Old Trafford this summer.

The 37-year-old's future with the Red Devils remains up in the air despite head coach Erik ten Hag insisting earlier this month that the Portuguese star is part of his plans for the 2022-23 campaign.

Ronaldo, who has just 12 months remaining on his contract, has allegedly told United that he wants to leave the club this summer as he is desperate to continue playing in the Champions League.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was the only first-team player who did not travelled with the rest of Ten Hag's squad on their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia due to a "family issue".

Ronaldo is currently based in his homeland where he has been training alone over the summer while his agent Jorge Mendes sorts out a potential exit from Old Trafford.

Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Portugal on June 9, 2022 © Reuters

According to the Daily Mail, Ronaldo is willing to take a pay cut from his £360,000-a-week salary to leave Man United this summer.

The report adds that Mendes is looking to engineer a move for his client to La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid, with the Red Devils believed to be open to letting the legendary forward leave on loan.

With the likes of Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich all turning down the chance to sign Ronaldo, it is thought that Atletico could be a possible destination for the former Real Madrid man.

Los Colchoneros are allegedly looking to offload Antoine Griezmann to fund a potential transfer for Ronaldo, but an exit for the 31-year-old France international could prove challenging.

Griezmann is currently halfway through a two-year loan spell with Atletico, who are obliged to sign the forward permanently from parent club Barcelona for €40m (£34m) in the summer of 2023.

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts on May 7, 2022 © Reuters

Alvaro Morata is another striker who could be offloaded this summer, with Diego Simeone yet to decide whether the Spaniard is part of his plans for next season.

The 29-year-old has spent the last two seasons on loan with Italian giants Juventus, who are thought to be open to the prospect of luring him back to Turin.

Ronaldo could become the first player since Morata to represent both Atletico and Real Madrid, having spent nine trophy-laden years with the latter between 2009 and 2018.

The potential departure of Ronaldo from Old Trafford could see United target Red Bull Salzburg forward Benjamin Sesko, with one report claiming that they are one of several top European clubs who are keeping tabs on the 19-year-old.