Two of Europe’s major clubs have ruled themselves out of a move for Cristiano Ronaldo as the Manchester United forward continues to struggle to find a landing spot.
After only one season back at the club with whom he made his name, Ronaldo decided Old Trafford is not the best place for him for the second time in his career and has asked to leave.
Agents working on the 37-year-old’s behalf offered his services to Chelsea, who ended their interest and instead moved for Raheem Sterling.
The Portugal international missed the entirety of United’s preseason tour in Thailand and Australia, only returning to the club’s Carrington training base on Tuesday for talks with Erik Ten Hag.
Ronaldo’s desire to play Champions League football next season is believed to be one of the driving forces behind his request to leave, although two more clubs playing in the competition have distanced themselves from a move.
Bayern Munich chief executive Oliver Khan has admitted the Bundesliga giants discussed the idea internally but have decided not to attempt to sign Ronaldo.
“We discussed about Cristiano Ronaldo internally - I consider him one of greatest footballers ever,” he told BILD.
“Then we came to conclusion that, despite appreciation for Cristiano, he would not fit into our philosophy in the current situation”.
Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, have laughed off suggestions they were interested in a player to have rewritten the record books with city rivals Real.
"I’ve already said this several times, I don’t know who invented the Cristiano story but I’ll tell you that it’s practically impossible that he comes to Atletico de Madrid,” Atletico president Enrique Cerezo told reporters on Tuesday.
“Rumours are rumours and they have to stay as rumours. If you keep on fuelling the rumours then eventually it will look like it’s something real, which it’s not."
