Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann has sent Cristiano Ronaldo a blunt message over his future amid his attempts to leave Manchester United this summer.
Ronaldo remains determined to depart the Red Devils this summer after just one season back at Old Trafford following his high-profile return from Juventus last year after 12 years away. He has been attempting to force through an exit for two months.
The 37-year-old came on as a second-half substitute in the Premier League opening-weekend defeat by Brighton as he was not deemed fit enough to start. He was restored to the starting line-up for the humiliating four-goal loss at Brentford in the following game. Ronaldo snubbed a request from the club’s assistant coach Steve McClaren to acknowledge the travelling United fans after the game – showing the disillusion engulfing the club.
The superstar striker's agent, Jorge Mendes, has offered him far and wide, with Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Napoli and Bayern among those linked with him at various stages. Bayern’s Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund emerged as a potential lifeline earlier this week; a move to Dortmund would present the five-time Ballon d'Or winner with the chance to plunder goals in a new country and compete in Europe's elite competition this season.
However, Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke poured cold water over such reports in a move that effectively ruled the club out of the running to land the superstar.
Nagelsmann has explained to reporters: "To be honest, I don't care if Cristiano goes to Borussia! Whether he goes there or not, he doesn't matter to me. The only thing I know is that he has a contract with United. I've already learned not to talk about players who aren't mine.
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"He's not the youngest anymore and that means you spend a lot of money. I think many clubs would like to have him, but 15 clubs in Germany couldn't afford his annual salary. And I don't see him earning around €500,000 per year – I simply cannot imagine it."
Regarding why clubs may want to sign Ronaldo, Nagelsmann did concede: "Everyone knows that he is a great player, capable of scoring many goals. And, if you involve him, you will sell many shirts."
Ronaldo bagged 24 goals for United last year in his first season back at the club after a dozen years away, but his arrival coincided with the team’s nosedive in form and the collective regression of other attacking players at the club.
