Cristiano Ronaldo is set to remain at Manchester United against his will this January - meaning he won't be able to take Sir Alex Ferguson or Jose Mourinho's advice on board.
Ronaldo, 37, wanted to depart the Red Devils this summer after just one season back at Old Trafford following his high-profile return from Juventus last year, but this ambition was not realised as he remained at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo was left "upset" at seeing his pay slashed at Man United after each member of the squad was hit with a 25 per cent cut to their weekly wage due to the club's failure to qualify for the Champions League.
Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho have previously spoken out on how they measure success in football, agreeing that winning trophies is what separates the men from the boys.
Ronaldo has won more than his fair share of silverware over the years but is unlikely to lift a trophy this season, which is a big reason why he wanted to leave in the summer transfer window.
Mourinho said of Ronaldo, back in 2008: "I don't think he can be a player without a big trophy. Clearly what Ronaldo did in the season was magnificent. I think by far, or by some distance, he has been the best player in the Premiership but for me, the best is always a winner because football is a collective sport.
"If Man United do something important by winning the Premiership or by winning the Champions League I would say – and not just me, the whole football world – give the trophy to him."
Five years later, Ferguson concurred with Mourinho's sentiment on measuring elite players.
"I judge my success by trophies," the former United boss said. "We have a good record of that and a good history too. We are very ambitious to maintain that success. We know we have to perform to make sure we are always up there.
"But what is success? You could have a team who finishes in the top three or four every season and get to the final of a cup competition but don't go on and win it. I don't think that is failure. That is relative success. You have kept your team in a competitive situation throughout the season. You are in Europe and contesting the Champions League."
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Both Ferguson and Mourinho's comments point to the idea that Ronaldo needs to leave United to ensure he keeps winning trophies and subsequently remains one of the world's best players.
Ronaldo, who isn't currently getting regular football at United, had been looking ahead at the January transfer window, but Red Devils football director John Murtough poured cold water on the idea that there will be first-team movements in or out of the club this winter, suggesting the forward won't be going anywhere.
"Overall, we are ahead of schedule in our recruitment plans as envisaged at the start of the summer, and we do not anticipate the same level of activity in future windows," said Murtough on a call to discuss Man United's financial performance. "As always, our planning focuses on the summer window."
