ERIK TEN HAG refused to guarantee Cristiano Ronaldo will stay at Manchester United this week.
The United boss insists he wants the wantaway Portugal star at the club beyond Thursday’s transfer deadline.
Asked if Ronaldo will remain at Old Trafford, Ten Hag said: “I can’t say that.
“We plan with him. We stick to the plan. We want him to stay. That is what I want.”
Pressed on whether Ronaldo will still be a United player come Friday morning, Ten Hag could only add: “I hope so.”
Ronaldo was left out of Ten Hag’s starting XI for the second game in a row at Southampton — and a third time in the opening four Prem matches.
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The forward, 37, threw United’s pre-season plans into turmoil by saying he wanted to join a club in the Champions League.
Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Napoli, Marseille and ex-club Sporting Lisbon are linked with a move for Ronaldo — who missed the club’s summer tour due to ‘personal reasons’.
United and Ten Hag have publicly maintained they do not want to sell him.
Ten Hag vowed United would “strike” if suitable players become available before 11pm on Thursday.
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He said: “We’ll be alert until the last second.”
Ronaldo tweeted after their 1-0 win at St. Mary’s: “3 important points.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
