Cristiano Ronaldo discusses Manchester United future with former manager Sir Alex Ferguson in private talks

According to the Mirror, Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has held private conversations with his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson regarding his future at the club after a dismal season that will see the side finish outside the top four of the Premier League table.

United have been terrible this term, failing to get going from the very beginning and unable to put together a winning run. Their performances in the current campaign are a far cry from last season, where they finished runners-up to eventual champions Manchester City.

Ronaldo re-signed for the club last summer and the side saw an immediate upturn in fortunes due to the Portuguese skipper’s goals, but his loss of form in 2022 also saw the team fail to get desired results. Although the forward has now hit a recent purple patch once again, it has come too late to save the Red Devils’ season.

The 37-year-old was last seen in United’s 4-0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion last night, in yet another poor result for the club that has now extinguished their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next term. The team currently occupy the sixth position in the league table.

Protect player’s legacy

Although Ronaldo signed a two-year deal with the Manchester side last summer and has another year left on his contract, the club’s terrible performances on the pitch and inability to qualify for the UCL have raised the possibility of the player departing at the end of the season.

However, Sir Alex is said to have had private conversations with the former Real Madrid man about staying on for another year and protecting his legacy at Old Trafford. Ronaldo has regularly visited the legendary manager’s home in Cheshire, using their close relationship to discuss the player’s future in the Premier League.

It is wise to remember that it was the legendary Scotsman who brought a young Ronaldo to Old Trafford from Sporting CP and nurtured him into a world-class winger. Since then, the two have been very close.

Ronaldo has been instrumental to United’s campaign this season, with the forward shouldering the responsibility of scoring the goals due to the poor form of Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford. Anthony Martial has been sent on loan to Sevilla while Mason Greenwood remains suspended, so the team has been overly reliant on Ronaldo for his goals.

The Portugal international is arguably the sole reason why the Red Devils progressed to the knockout stages of the Champions League, saving the team right at the death with some crucial strikes. However, he could not help them go further in the competition, crashing out in the Round of 16 stages.

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The Manchester side has also failed to win any silverware this term, which extends their trophy drought to five years. Ronaldo was brought in to break this unwanted record, but inconsistency from the team and his patchy form earlier in the year have not helped the club’s cause.

The lack of European football and inability to win silverware could see the Portuguese star leave the side after only spending a single season during his second spell in Manchester, but perhaps Sir Alex’s advice and conversations could change that around in the summer.