Dharmesh Sheth: Man Utd "stance has not changed" on 6 ft 2 star Ten Hag really likes

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is “planning on starting the season” with Cristiano Ronaldo in the squad, according to Dharmesh Sheth of Sky Sports.

That is despite the fact that the Portugal legend is thought to have told the club he wants to leave earlier in the summer.

According to multiple reports, Ronaldo has cited that he wants the club to show more ambition as a reason for wanting to leave the club this summer.

However, according to Romano, ten Hag has insisted that the 37-year-old is not for sale this summer, and the Dutchman is “looking forward to working with him” having called him an “absolute top player”.

Despite ten Hag’s claims, it was reported by David Ornstein at the start of July that Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes had offered the forward to Chelsea, amongst other clubs.

But Sheth believes that ten Hag is fully prepared for the £27m-rated man to be his striker come the first game of the Premier League season.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “United’s stance has not changed from the moment that Ronaldo made it clear he wanted to leave, and that is he’s not for sale.

“He’s got a year left on his contract and they’ve got an option for further 12 months.

“Everything that Erik ten Hag is saying on the pre-season tour is that he’s counting on him and they are expecting him to be in the squad.

“He’s even been pushed on whether Ronaldo could be here for a further 12 months on the option and he says yes, he could be.

“So, he’s planning on starting the season with Ronaldo as his number nine.”

With every passing day it seems more and more likely that Ronaldo will be a Manchester United player come the start of the Premier League season, but whether he’s happy with that prospect remains to be seen.

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