All summer, Manchester United's public position has been that they want to keep Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese superstar has been attempting to engineer a move away from the club, hoping to join a team that will be in the Champions League this season. However, his agent Jorge Mendes has not been able to drum up much interest. Ronaldo's wages, playing style, and persona make him a difficult fit for perspective buyers.
While Erik ten Hag has said he is keen to hang onto the forward, his actions in recent games speak differently. The 37-year old has been dropped from the starting XI, with the team's performances greatly improving as a result.
That may make an exit more likely before the end of the transfer window next week, although how much interest is out there remains highly doubtful.
Sporting Lisbon manager not keen on Cristiano Ronaldo signing
Sporting Lisbon has been mentioned as one possible destination in recent months. He would have to take a sizeable pay cut, but there is a romantic aspect to Cristiano Ronaldo returning to the club where he started his career. They are also in the Champions League this season and will compete for honours on the domestic front.
However, not all at the club are convinced that it would be a wise idea.
In an intriguing article in The Times that goes into detail on the player's mission to move away from Old Trafford, it is suggested that Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim would walk away from the job if they were to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.
Despite winning a league title and two Portuguese cups together, the relationship between club and manager have become somewhat strained in recent times. Amorim was unhappy that the board sanctioned the sale of Matheus Nunes to Wolves last week and publicly stated so.
Ronaldo actually knows the Sporting Lisbon boss well, having played alongside him for Portugal for a number of years in the early 2010s. The report claims that the striker labelled his former teammates stance on a potential deal as 'laughable'.
It remains to be seen if the club would go against the stance of their manager should the opportunity present itself.
This is just one example of Cristiano Ronaldo's current standing in the game. While he is one of the greatest players of all-time, the baggage he brings at this stage in his career is putting most teams off.
Considering how Erik ten Hag has approached recent games, it could present some major problems for Manchester United moving forward if they don't move him on.
The player is unlikely to take kindly to prolonged periods on the bench and could become an even more disruptive presence in the dressing room.
Their manager will surely be hoping that they can find a taker before Thursday's deadline.
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