Manchester United report: Cristiano Ronaldo set to LEAVE after just one season – on one condition

Manchester United have held talks with Cristiano Ronaldo about his future at the club, with the Portuguese set for a surprise exit, just a year after his big return.

Ronaldo came back to Old Trafford after 12 years away and was greeted to a festival atmosphere. In his first game back at United, the 36-year-old netted a brace against Newcastle United, with United expected to compete for the Premier League title after last season's second-place finish.

The veteran goalgetter will apparently be allowed to leave if United do not qualify for the Champions League.

Ronaldo has 140 goals in 181 games in the competition, having lifted five European Cups during his time at the top. The Portuguese was key to his new club's success in the group stage, netting vital goals and is widely associated with the tournament.

With United lingering in seventh in the table and locked in a four-way battle for the top four with Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham, the odds of the club making the competition next season are diminishing.

Ronaldo is valued at £31.5m on Transfermarkt.

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Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.