Man Utd facing disaster over "phenomenal" £31.5m-rated star, supporters will be fuming - opinion

Manchester United fear that they face a battle to keep hold of Cristiano Ronaldo, with the star expected to quit at the end of the season amidst interest from some European giants.

The Portuguese veteran rejoined the Red Devils on a two-year contract last summer and has the option of a third year. His second spell at United has come with difficulties, though, as the club have struggled to find form in a season filled with inconsistency.

Despite this, Ronaldo has impressed at the age of 37, chipping in with 21 goal contributions (18 goals, three assists) in 33 appearances, but United’s prospective failure to secure Champions League football could prove fatal in their bid to keep hold of their talisman.

According to Football Insider, there is an “expectation at the top of the club” that Ronaldo will leave at the end of the season, with Portuguese giants Porto looking to lure him back to his homeland in a move which could see him link up with fellow countryman and former Real Madrid team-mate Pepe.

It gets even worse for United fans, with the expectation that Ronaldo’s departure could be along the grounds of a free transfer due to his vast wages, which would save the club around £25m per year.

Even at the age of 37, Ronaldo has impressed in what has been a difficult time for Manchester United and their supporters. His six Champions League goals proved vital for a Red Devils side which just fell short against Spanish giants Athletico Madrid in the round of 16, whilst his match-winning hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur last month was the epitome of his importance to this United side.

With ongoing links to possession-heavy managers such as Erik Ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino, United should do everything they can to keep