Noel Whelan has backed Cristiano Ronaldo to return to Sporting CP this summer amid the latest “unrest” in the Man United dressing room....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the 37-year-old will be desperate to play Champions League football at any cost.
According to The Athletic (28 July), Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has held talks with Sporting about a potential return to the club he left in 2003.
The Portuguese club are in the Champions League from the group stage this term after finishing runners-up in their top flight last term.
Ronaldo played the opening 45 minutes in his first appearance of pre-season in a clash against Rayo Vallecano last week (31 July) – but left Old Trafford while the match was ongoing.
New boss Erik ten Hag told Dutch outlet Viaplay on Wednesday (3 August) that the striker’s behaviour was “unacceptable”.
Whelan claimed Ronaldo has been “really unhappy” at Man United – and that discontent dates back to last season.
He told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury: “It’s a club that’s close to his heart [Sporting] – we know that.
“He’s just really unhappy at Man United, and we saw glimpses of that coming through last season.
“It’s not the Man United he knew and loved before, and now you’re starting to see disagreements off the field and rumours of him being a nuisance under different managers.
“There’s unrest in the changing room, and I think it boils down to not having that challenge of the Champions League.
