The last time Cristiano Ronaldo tried to leave Manchester United, the club made him stay another year.
Back in 2008, Sir Alex Ferguson gave Ronaldo a verbal guarantee he could join Real Madrid the following season if he gave United one more year, which he duly did. With Ronaldo agitating to leave United again, after just one season back at Old Trafford, United are standing firm once more, insisting he is not for sale and must see out the final year of his deal.
Newly-appointed United boss Erik ten Hag reiterated that stance when he faced the world's media in Bangkok ahead of his first game in charge of United, against old foes Liverpool. Ten Hag, who grew visibly weary of the barrage of questions about United's star player, insisted he was planning for the new season with Ronaldo and talked of holding positive talks with him over the phone.
Crucially, however, that was before Ronaldo and his representatives made it know the 37-year-old wanted to quit United, for a club that can offer him Champions League football, a competition he is determined to grace for a 20th successive season. The Ronaldo dilemma has provided ten Hag with his first real test as United boss, one which will prove a major test of his authority in his new role.
Keep Ronaldo and Ten Hag will have asserted his control, lose him and both he and United would lose credibility, along with their major source of goals. Ronaldo plundered 24 goals last season, and while there are those who believe his presence in the team actually served to undermine United, it is hard to see which of the current squad could match that figure if the five-time Ballon d'Or winner was allowed to leave.
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Marcus Rashford managed just five goals from 32 appearances last season, while fellow striker Anthony Martial managed just two – one for United, the other in a calamitous loan spell at Sevilla in the second half of the season.
Given United have been priced out of a move for Brazil forward Antony, with Ajax valuing him at £70million, and are increasingly unlikely to add a striker to their squad before the September 1 transfer deadline, their intransigence on Ronaldo is even more understandable.
When such high-profile players as Ronaldo make a demand, they usually get their way, and there is an argument that keeping a player - particularly one as decorated as the Portugal icon - against his will can only have a negative impact on United and the rest of the squad.
Despite not getting his dream move to Madrid in 2008, Ronaldo showed his professionalism by scoring 25 goals the following season, helping United to the Premier League title, League Cup and Champions League final, where they were beaten by Barcelona. While a repeat of those glories next season is fanciful, given how far United have fallen, the club and ten Hag must win the battle to make Ronaldo stay and hope he can give the new boss the perfect start to his time in charge.
