CRISTIANO RONALDO has told Manchester United that he would like to leave the club immediately.

The United board should grant him his wish as soon as possible, providing he isn’t sold to another Premier League side and providing the club can find an adequate replacement.

This is just what Erik ten Hag didn’t need two weeks into the job but I’m not convinced he didn’t know about this earlier in the window.

Regardless of when he found out, given the season starts in exactly a month, it presents the Dutchman with a huge issue and places even more pressure on those in charge of recruitment.  

Let’s be clear from the beginning. Ronaldo does what works for Ronaldo.

We can debate all day about who said what and when, but what we do know is that Ronaldo wants out and United’s doddery recruitment team have to work against the clock to find a replacement.

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Do you trust them to get it right? If you have doubts, you probably have a case.

So far this window, Man Utd have concluded one deal. Feyenoord’s young defender Tyrell Malacia has been announced.

Another signing, a free transfer, is expected to be concluded later this week with former Tottenham and Brentford midfielder Christian Eriksen agreeing a three-year contract at Old Trafford.

It goes down as an underwhelming start to the window as supporters wait anxiously to see if the chase of Frenkie De Jong from Barcelona is concluded.

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Additionally, if a deal with Ajax for Lisandro Martinez can by finalised, before the club leaves for their tour of Thailand and Australia on Friday.

I’m not surprised Ronaldo wants to leave, why would you be? His ego demands that he plays in the Champions League. 'Mr Champions League' at 37, hasn’t got a year to waste in the Europa League.

His goal scoring record in a poor United outfit was very good.

He may well blame United’s lack of activity in the transfer window, but he knew before he re-joined that this was not the club he left for Real Madrid back in 2009.

Expectation back then was to win the Premier League, Champions League and World Club Cup.

Now it’s to settle for Europa League qualification and make do with a decent cup run. The club is in freefall.

Ten Hag has come in with certain demands and is trying his best to implement a new way of playing and culture. But he can’t do it all on his own.

So strap yourself in for the latest episode of United’s calamitous summer transfer window. The 2022 version.

Man Utd could save face by signing who Ten Hag wants and buying someone to replace Ronaldo. The trouble is, nothing we’ve seen since Sir Alex Ferguson retired fills any of us with confidence.

United aren’t the attraction they once were and the latest 'fairytale' signing looks to be going down as yet another horrible Glazer family error.

For more of Tom's views, visit his Twitter account:

@MrTomMcDermott

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