Liverpool Airport has offered Cristiano Ronaldo a Manchester escape route with a cheeky tweet.
The veteran forward, 37, reportedly wants to leave Manchester United if they receive an offer for him this summer. Ronaldo is said to be disappointed with the club's lack of ambition in the summer transfer window and wants to play in the Champions League next season.
United will be competing in the Europa League in the upcoming campaign after finishing sixth in the Premier League last term. Ronaldo still has 12 months remaining on his existing deal and new manager Erik ten Hag has previously confirmed he's in his plans.
Nonetheless, uncertainty surrounds the Real Madrid legend's future - and Liverpool Airport pounced on the ongoing transfer saga to get one over their local rival. A tweet read: "Itching to get out of Manchester, but want to avoid the queues?"
"We happily invite Cristiano to try the North West's Faster, Easier, Friendlier Airport, where he can connect on to Munich or Lisbon with Lufthansa, or fly Ryanair direct to Paris or Rome."
The amusing tweet was referring to the list of clubs Ronaldo is linked with - including Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Roma and boyhood club Sporting Lisbon. Jamie Carragher, who criticised United's decision to re-sign Ronaldo, retweeted the post.
Ronaldo is a legend at Old Trafford after scoring 118 goals during his first spell for the club between 2003 and 2009, helping Sir Alex Ferguson's team win nine trophies - including three Premier League titles, the Champions League and Club World Cup.
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He re-joined United from Juventus last summer and many were expecting him to end their long wait for silverware, with their last trophy coming in May 2017 after they beat Ajax 2-0 to win the Europa League final. They finished second in the Premier League in the 2020-21 term.
But Ronaldo's return hasn't work out as hoped. Although he scored 24 goals in all competitions to finish as the club's top scorer, United crashed out of the Champions League, FA Cup and EFL Cup early on in the season just gone. Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November and interim boss Ralf Rangnick failed to reignite the stuttering squad.
Many critics have pinned United's poor form on Ronaldo's return by insisting he doesn't fit the club's style of play. Yet new boss Ten Hag confirmed the experienced forward was part of his plans at his unveiling in May, telling reporters he brings "goals".
Ronaldo's departure at this stage would leave Ten Hag with a tactical dilemma, although pundit Danny Murphy believes his exit could be a blessing in disguise. "I understand his desire to leave, it will upset one or two," Murphy exclusively told Mirror Football.
"But, ultimately, it could be a blessing for United. I think there is a valid argument to suggest that the team would be better-suited to have someone in there who can press from the front, who has got a bit more energy and a desire to do the hard yards off the ball."
Piers Morgan, meanwhile, has insisted Ronaldo was "the only thing stopping United from battling relegation" in an extraordinary claim. He's also described other members of United's squad as "over-paid, pampered, prima donna spoiled brats".
