Cristiano Ronaldo ‘to leave Man United if they fail to qualify for the Champions League this season’

Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly set to leave Manchester United this summer if the Red Devils fail to qualify for Champions League football next season.

Ronaldo, 36, sealed a sensational return to United last summer, with the hope he could help the Devils could win their first title in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

However, United have endured a questionable campaign and sit in the seventh spot in the Premier League.

According to The Sun, Ronaldo’s representatives are already in talks with Richard Arnold – who will take over from Ed Woodward as United’s CEO next month — over Ronaldo’s future.

The Portuguese turns 37 next month and believes he can play at the top level until he is 40, but wants to finish his career on a high as a winner.

Last week, Ronaldo hinted that he would not settle for anything less than Champions League football, telling Sky Sports that occupying the Europa League places is not acceptable for United.

The prolific attacker also suggested that some of his teammates are not as committed to the cause as he is. 

‘I don’t want to be here in a club to fight to be in sixth or seventh or fifth place, I’m here to try to win,’ he said. ‘I’m back in Manchester because I love this club, it’s not just because of money or whatever. I believe that we have the potential here to win important things. But some things have to change. I believe if we change our minds, we can achieve big things. 

‘I say we have a long way to improve because, for me, the most important thing is the mentality,’ he said. ‘To look at yourself and say, “I can do better”.

‘For you to be professional, help the team, the right mentality, self-taught and positive. All these details depend on you, not the coaches, the fans or the press. If you are proud of yourself and you have dignity, you have to do it much more.’

‘If I give you advice, even if you are younger than me, if you don’t implant that during your daily life, it will be difficult,’ he said. ‘I will be the No 1 to help. But if you don’t want my help, do your job, look for yourself, do your best to help the team.

‘I can speak all day with that person but if it’s not coming from inside of you, it’s impossible. When I was 18, 19, 20, some older players spoke with me, but I put that as, “Cristiano, you have to improve”.