Manchester United are not budging on their stance and have declared Cristiano Ronaldo is 'not for sale' despite his wish to seal an Old Trafford exit, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
Erik ten Hag has taken over as the Red Devils' new boss ahead of next season, but there are doubts as to whether he will be able to call upon Ronaldo.
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What's the latest news involving Ronaldo?
Ronaldo may still have 12 months remaining on his £480,000-per-week Manchester United contract, but there are question marks as to whether he will still be on the club's books in a matter of weeks' time.
That is because the forward has told the Red Devils that he wants to be allowed to leave Old Trafford if a suitable offer arrives before the September 1 transfer deadline.
Ronaldo is understood to be seeking a new challenge after Manchester United failed to qualify for the Champions League last season, finishing 13 points off the pace.
The Portuguese, who scored return last August, is desperate to join a club which will compete in Europe's elite club competition in the upcoming campaign.
Amid uncertainty over his future, Ronaldo did not return to pre-season training due to ‘family reasons’ on Monday.
What has Fabrizio Romano said about Ronaldo?
Romano understands ten Hag is eager to keep Ronaldo at Manchester United and, as a result, he is not willing to sanction the £27million-rated star's departure.
The transfer guru believes the Red Devils are unwilling to change their stance despite Ronaldo's hopes to move on.
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Romano told GIVEMESPORT: "Manchester United's position is not changing. They want Cristiano to stay and they consider Cristiano not for sale.
"I think the message behind saying he is not for sale is 'we don't want to negotiate', especially with Chelsea, for example."
Who could Ronaldo join if he leaves Old Trafford?
As Romano has alluded to, Chelsea are understood to be considering a move for Ronaldo ahead of the upcoming campaign.
It comes after it emerged Blues owner Todd Boehly held conversations with the 189-cap Portugal international's agent Jorge Mendes as he looked to discover whether a move to Stamford Bridge could be a possibility.
Ronaldo would reportedly be open to sealing a switch to Chelsea, although Manchester United's Premier League rivals have yet to make a final decision on whether to table a formal offer.
Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and Italian giants Napoli have also been mooted as potential destinations for the 37-year-old.