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Cristiano Ronaldo 'could have played last game for Manchester United'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 13 November 2022

Cristiano Ronaldo 'could have played last game for Man United'

Manchester United attacker Cristiano Ronaldo could have reportedly played his last game for the club as Erik ten Hag prepares to part ways with the Portuguese in January.

Manchester United attacker Cristiano Ronaldo could have played his final game for the Red Devils, according to a report.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has largely been a peripheral figure under Erik ten Hag, having allegedly tried to force an exit in the summer transfer window.

The form of Marcus Rashford in the number nine spot forced Ronaldo to accept a bit-part role, even with Anthony Martial missing a large chunk of the season through injury.

Tensions between player and manager came to a head when he refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur last month, but he was only dropped from the squad for the draw with Chelsea before forcing his way back into Ten Hag's starting lineup.

However, Ronaldo was absent from the EFL Cup win over Aston Villa due to illness and is reportedly set to miss Sunday's Premier League clash with Fulham.

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo pictured during training on October 26, 2022 © Reuters

With the clash with the Cottagers representing Man United's final game before the World Cup, The Mirror speculates that Ronaldo may have turned out in Red Devils colours for the final time.

Following the clash with Fulham, Ten Hag's side will take on Cadiz and Real Betis in a pair of friendlies during the World Cup, where Ronaldo will headline the Portugal team.

Two days after the World Cup final on December 18, Man United will face off against Burnley in the last 16 of the EFL Cup before meeting Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League before the January transfer window opens.

Ronaldo missed a large chunk of pre-season for personal reasons amid his reported desire to leave, but agent Jorge Mendes failed to engineer an exit for the former Real Madrid and Juventus man.

Now, Ten Hag is believed to be willing to let Ronaldo leave in the January transfer window before the 37-year-old departs on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring for Manchester United on October 9, 2022 © Reuters

The 20-time English champions do have the option to extend Ronaldo's contract until the summer of 2024, but they are highly unlikely to trigger that extension given his struggles this term.

Ronaldo has three goals and two assists from 16 matches in the 2022-23 campaign, taking his total for Man United to 145 goals and 64 assists in 346 games across all tournaments.

A return to Sporting Lisbon has been strongly mooted for the veteran attacker, but it remains to be seen if Ruben Amorim's side would have the financial muscle to afford a move.

Ronaldo and Portugal will face Uruguay, Ghana and South Korea in World Cup Group H and will take on the African nation in their first game on November 24.