MANCHESTER UNITED believe Cristiano Ronaldo could make a dramatic U-turn and buy into Erik ten Hag’s revolution after the club’s spending splurge.
Red Devils legend Ronaldo wanted out after last season, when they finished with their lowest points total in Premier League history.
His agent Jorge Mendes has been searching for a new club all summer — without success.
But the mood has changed since United completed their fifth new signing with the £85.5million capture of Brazilian winger Antony from Ajax.
And the club’s hierarchy are now hoping Ronaldo can see the ambition at United to get back to the top after a club-record window spend of £207m.
Antony joins Casemiro, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen, with Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka also set to join on loan.
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Ronaldo had been looking for a club that could add to his five Champions League medals but no deal has materialised.
Manager Ten Hag had been happy to let the player go as there was a feeling he was affecting the mood in the camp.
Ten Hag left Ronaldo out of the starting line-up for the last two games.
He has always been keen to work with the Portugal superstar — but it has to be on his terms.
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The Red Devils lost their first two games but there have now been back-to-back wins over Liverpool and Southampton.
Yet while United have strengthened in defence, midfield and now on the wing with Antony, they still do not have an out-and-out scorer in the vein of Ronaldo.
That is why they have been trying to hang on to him and hoping he changes his mind.
Meanwhile, Ajax coach Alfred Schreuder slammed United for splashing out big money for Antony — and also criticised the player’s conduct.
Schreuder said: “The amounts are crazy. United also paid more than €100m for Sancho.
“Then you can pay that for him [Antony], too. Are the players worth it? No.”
Antony missed Ajax’s last two games and trained alone in a bid to push through the deal.
And Schreuder added: “It’s bad. That’s weird. He was eventually addressed about that. I’m angry about it.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
