Erik ten Hag's stance on Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United future

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says he is open to working with Cristiano Ronaldo for two more years.

Ronaldo has not travelled with the United squad on their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia due to a family issue and a week before the squad flew to Bangkok it emerged Ronaldo wanted to leave the club.

The 37-year-old has been training in Lisbon and United are still in the dark over Ronaldo's return date to their Carrington training complex.

Also read: Every word of Ten Hag's Q&A with English press

Chelsea and Bayern Munich have allowed Romelu Lukaku and Robert Lewandowski to leave but both clubs have ruled out moving for Ronaldo.

In a sit-down with English journalists at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Ten Hag confirmed he had still not spoken to Ronaldo since United were informed he would not be on their pre-season tour, however he stressed he is keen to collaborate with the Portuguese.

Ronaldo is contracted to United until next year but also has the option of an additional year.

"I am well informed he also has also an option, eh?" Ten Hag said. "Yes (he could stay beyond this season), but to be honest, of course I have signed here for three years, but in football it’s short-term as well. We have to win from the start. So I don’t look that far ahead.

"I have a strategy, it’s a process, it takes time, but in the end we have to make sure from the outset there is a winning team."

When asked about Ronaldo's return date, Ten Hag replied: "The same status as last week in Bangkok: no change. I cannot tell you (when he will be back at Carrington). No change in the issue.

"He is training. I think we all know Ronaldo is a top professional and he will be fit. That is the last concern I have."

Ten Hag also believes he