Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has made a Europa League joke against the Red Devils when analysing Cristiano Ronaldo's will to leave the club amid Chelsea's interest.
The Man United talisman is currently away from the pre-season spotlight as he had been granted to take some more time off football due to family reasons. Worryingly, though, his return to pre-season remains unknown with the Australia tour fast approaching.
Having already been spotted in Lisbon, speculation has intensified regarding the future of the 37-year-old, who has reportedly told new manager Erik ten Hag about his desire to leave in order to make it 20 seasons in a row playing Champions League football. With not many options currently out there, Chelsea's interest is seemingly the most advanced out of anyone currently. The latest rumours doing the rounds suggest that a £14million bid is being prepared for a player who United themselves will open negotiations for if a £13m opening offer came in.
READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo told he could 'spoil' Man Utd legacy with Chelsea transfer as £14m bid ready
The thought of Ronaldo playing football next season or a Premier League team that isn't Man United remains an unpalatable prospect to many supporters of the Old Trafford-based club, but as the days draw on, this hypothetical seems to be edging closer to becoming a reality.
Understandably so, Ferdinand has reasoned with his former teammate and made a mockery of his former club and the fact they are in the Europa League to suggest why the Portuguese international would take such drastic action in this situation in regards to switching his allegiances to Chelsea for 2022/23.
"Everyone's saying Ronaldo's not happy and doesn't want to be there, of course, he isn't happy," the former Three Lions defender told the Vibe With Five Podcast.
"You are talking about Cristiano Ronaldo here, what do you expect. I don't understand how it's a big story that Cristiano Ronaldo isn't happy with the way things are at Man United- he can't be.
"I wouldn't be, anybody who wants to win football matches or trophies and anyone who is used to winning and competing every year at the top of the table for the biggest prizes available and then all of a sudden, isn't and doesn't even qualify for the Champions League- you cannot sit here and expect them to be happy."
Ferdinand then concluded: "I would presume that he's probably not happy with anything. Listen, Man United, if you look at what happened with missing out on the Champions League, he doesn't even know what the Europa League soundtrack sounds like.
"When that comes on, he's going to be thinking what dance am I in here."
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