Manchester United are keen to retain Cristiano Ronaldo and this has been confirmed by Erik ten Hag on numerous occasions.
The Red Devils are not bluffing as they are not willing to let him leave. That’s according to AS, who add the 37-year-old’s wish is to leave Old Trafford this summer.
Despite Manchester United’s stance, the forward ‘stands firm’ in his position to make a move away from the club and the article says that is why he has not joined the club’s pre-season tour. The battle has begun and his suitors are waiting to see whether the Red Devils will give up in the end.
Atlético Madrid are among them and there has been ‘some contact’, likely with Ronaldo’s camp. The La Liga side carried out informal surveys for him a few days ago and it is informal because they cannot afford to pay for this operation.
Los Rojiblancos have to raise €40m through sales, and to sign the Portugal international, they will have to raise even more money. At the moment, their exit operations are stuck.
Meanwhile, Diego Simeone looks at Ronaldo as a market opportunity, like Luis Suárez in 2020, but with a greater impact than the Uruguayan.
AS state the Manchester United star ‘looks favourably’ at the option of making a switch to the Metropolitano as it will see him to play in the Champions League and compete for trophies.
The former Real Madrid superstar and his family would like to live in the Spanish capital 
again. The report further adds that just as Simeone likes Ronaldo, the player also likes the Argentine and is ‘seduced’ by the possibility of working under the coach at Atlético.
AS end their report by stating: ‘Cristiano wants to leave Manchester United. Time is running and, as the days go by, the rumours about the star’s future are increasing. At the moment, the only sure thing is that he is still a United player, but it is not unreasonable to believe in a possible return of Cristiano to the Spanish League. His club, for now, does not see it that way, but the player presses and Atleti, on the prowl, hopes that there will be movements at Old Trafford.’
