Soccer

Ronaldo has not told me he wants to leave Manchester United, says Ten Hag

New manager says 37-year-old Portuguese star is not for sale and is part of his planning for new season

New Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says Cristiano Ronaldo has not told him he wants to leave the club. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
Jamie Jackson in Bangkok
Mon Jul 11 2022 - 14:58

Erik ten Hag has insisted Cristiano Ronaldo is yet to inform him that he wants to leave Manchester United and reiterated that the 37-year-old is not for sale.

Ronaldo has one year left on his contract at United, having rejoined the club a little under a year ago, and has made clear to those inside Old Trafford of his desire to leave this summer.

The player is not on United’s pre-season tour, which begins with a match against Liverpool in Bangkok on Tuesday, for personal reasons, something Ten Hag confirmed is very much the case, and that he remains relaxed over a situation which has undeniably cast a shadow over the Dutchman’s preparations for his first season in charge of the club.

New Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag says that Cristiano Ronaldo "is not for sale" despite rumours of unrest in the Portuguese star's camp.

“I didn’t speak to him [Ronaldo] after [the revelation that he wants to leave United],” said Ten Hag, who also confirmed Harry Maguire will remain club captain. “His absence is a personal issue. So he’s not with us and it’s due to personal issues.

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“We are planning for Cristiano Ronaldo for the [next] season and that’s it and I’m looking forward to working with him. I have read [about his wish] but what I say is Cristiano is not for sale, he is in our plans and we want success together.

“I spoke with him before this issue came up, I had a conversation with him and I had a good talk. That is between Cristiano and me, what I can confirm is we had a really good conversation together. I had a really good talk together with him.”

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire takes part in a training session at Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok ahaead of the friendly against Liverpool on Tuesday in the Thai capital. Photograph: Manan Vatsyayana/AFP via Getty Images

Maguire was the focus of much criticism regarding his form and leadership last season, a terrible one for United as they finished outside of the Champions League places and 35 points behind champions Manchester City. But the England centre back, who conducted his own warm-up routine during open training here on Monday due to a tight hamstring, will again be United’s on-pitch leader when the 2022-23 campaign gets under way next month.

“I have to get to know all of the players – he has been captain for years, he has achieved a lot of success, so I don’t doubt this issue,” said Ten Hag.

United arrived in the Far East having only made one signing so far this summer – left back Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord for €15 million. The 22-year-old has signed a four-year contract.

“He is the profile for the modern full back, defending good, tough to beat and in offence a really good contribution – that’s why,” Ten Hag said of Malacia, who becomes United’s fourth squad member capable of playing left back, alongside Luke Shaw, Alex Telles, Brandon Williams and Diogo Dalot.

United are also keen on signing Christian Eriksen, Frenkie de Jong and Lisandro Martínez, but all three potential deals continue to drag on, something which is a source of irritation for United supporters but not for Ten Hag.

“We want to add the right players. We have a really good squad, we are working to develop our way of playing and the opportunity is there and we will strike,” he insisted. “We not only want new players, we want the right new players, we have a good squad, there’s huge potential, only when we find them is there an improvement in our squad we will do.

“My first press conference, I said already, definitely, we are searching players in midfield, we have a need and also an offence, we are still looking for players. It’s going to be a long season but a season that is quite unusual due to the World Cup [being played before Christmas] so you need to be prepared for this and need more players than in a normal season.”

Ten Hag refused to be drawn on the qualities of United’s targets. “I never talk about players who are not under contract of Man United, players from different clubs,” he said, “so I cannot tell anything about this issue.”

Ten Hag also gave his backing to Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, both of whom endured especially torrid seasons last time out. “We worked [so far] for two weeks, they are fitting really good together and we have to find out what is the best,” said the manager. “What I know and see is they have an impact on the opponent and can hurt opponents.” – Guardian