Manchester United report: Red Devils ready to sell Cristiano Ronaldo in January

Manchester United are prepared to sell Cristiano Ronaldo in January, according to reports, following a strop from the striker that saw him dropped from the first-team squad.

Ronaldo has found it difficult to earn a starting spot in Erik ten Hag’s side this season since failing to find a new club in the summer.

Tensions came to a head last week when the 37-year-old refused to come on as a late substitute in a win over Tottenham and walked down the tunnel early, leading Ten Hag to drop him from the squad as punishment.

The Dutch boss subsequently insisted that he wanted and expected Ronaldo to remain at Old Trafford for the rest of the season.

But according to the Mirror, United and Ten Hag are wiling to let the 37-year-old go in January if a club comes in for him.

Ronaldo wanted to join a team competing in the Champions League over the summer, but didn’t receive a suitable offer.

He has played most of his football this term in the Europa League, making four starts in that competition compared to two in the Premier League.

But his overall record of two goals in 12 games is unimpressive for a player who was United’s top scorer last season.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner returned to Old Trafford from Juventus in the summer of 2021 and scored 24 goals in all competitions in his first season back.

He has a contract until June 2023 in Manchester, and is valued at £18 million by Transfermarkt.

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Speculation over Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United future has intensified after he refused to come on against Tottenham in midweek, with Chelsea among the clubs linked with a January move. 

However, Erik ten Hag wants the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to see out his contract at Old Trafford. 

It has also emerged that Ronaldo didn't receive a single vote for this year's Ballon d'Or, as he finished outside the top three for the first time since 2005.

Meanwhile, United are reportedly prepared to fight it out with Chelsea and PSG to sign Inter Milan centre-back Milan Skriniar – and have been linked with a mega-money move for Atletico Madrid and Portugal forward Joao Felix.