CRISTIANO RONALDO wants to leave Manchester United and Erik ten Hag “will not stand in his way” in January, according to reports.
The Portuguese legend was left on the bench for Sunday’s dismal 6-3 thrashing at Manchester City - something the boss says he did “out of respect for his big career”.
On potential incomings, United are said to be stepping up their pursuit of Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos.
Ten Hag is eyeing the £35m Portuguese ace in a January swoop, although United are not the only club interested.
While we've also get the latest on Cristiano Ronaldo's future at the club.
Though Raphael Varane has given the club a boost with his ankle injury not as bad as first feared.
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Fer the Record
Jamie Carragher has blasted Rio Ferdinand as a Cristiano Ronaldo "fan boy" after the Old Trafford icon defended his former team-mate.
Ferdinand reckons Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag made a mistake by not bringing on Ronaldo in Sunday's humiliating 6-3 defeat to Manchester City.
Carragher disagreed, and defended the United boss for the decision.
As the two engaged in a Twitter spat, the former Liverpool defender said: "Rio I know how it works, he’s your mate & you/ [Patrice] Evra & the rest are on the group WhatsApp & he asks you to come out & defend him, don’t be his fan boy you’re Rio Ferdinand FFS!!"
The Real Deal
These are the numbers which prove Erling Haaland is something special.
Following on from his hot scoring streak at Dortmund, Haaland's hat-trick for Manchester City against Manchester United on Sunday means he has landed over 100 goals in Europe.
He heads a list of some pretty impressive names - and has landed his achievement in double-quick time.
De End of the Road
David de Gea's days at Manchester United are numbered because he is not good enough at playing out from the back, claims Gary Neville.
The former Manchester United star discussed Erik ten Hag's philosophy following the 6-3 derby defeat to Manchester City.
He said on the Gary Neville podcast: "We all know where Ten Hag wants to get this United team, he wants 75 per cent possession, players that can handle the ball, defenders can handle the ball and the goalkeeper needs to be brilliant on the ball.
"I suspect with David de Gea, his United career is going to be shortlived under Ten Hag.
"He's [Ten Hag] going to be adamant that his philosophy of playing out from the back, playing those risky passes to the midfield that we see with Ederson all the time, that we no longer see as risky because they do it so well, is something that he's striving for and that he wants to get to."
The Spanish keeper is out of contract at the end of the season.
Rap it up
Manchester United have received a Raphael Varane injury boost with his early exit in the Manchester Derby not as bad as originally feared.
The Frenchman, 29, sustained an ankle injury at 1-0 in Sunday's 6-3 away defeat to Manchester City.
Varane was then off the pitch for Erling Haaland's first of the afternoon from a corner as he was receiving treatment.
He then limped off in the 40th minute with the Red Devils 3-0 down - but he did not go straight down the tunnel.
And according to the Manchester Evening News, sources say the injury is "not bad".
Read the full story here
