A deal for the 37-year-old would not “fit with our concept,” according to Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn, and the German club has no intention of acquiring Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United this summer.
According to sources who spoke with ESPN, Ronaldo has told United’s managers that he wants to move during the summer season, with Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Napoli mentioned as possible destinations.
But, according to Kahn, Bayern will not be making a move for the Portuguese great.
“As highly as I rate Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the greatest, a transfer wouldn’t be a fit with our philosophy,” he told German magazine Kicker.
Bayern’s attack has long been led by the prolific Robert Lewandowski, however, the 33-year-old has told the Bundesliga champions that he wants to leave the Allianz Arena this summer.
Sources have told ESPN that Barcelona made a third offer for Lewandowski last week, worth more than €40 million. Kahn has publicly insisted that the Poland striker is not for sale.
United similarly insists that Ronaldo, who scored 24 goals last season, is not available for transfer and that new manager Erik ten Hag “wants and expects” him to be part of the squad next season.
However, sources have told ESPN that in reality, that stance is softer, although they would prefer Ronaldo to move abroad rather than join Premier League rivals, Chelsea. He has a year left on his contract at Old Trafford with the option of another year.
Ronaldo is keen to continue playing in the Champions League and competing for major honors in the late stages of his career. United missed out on qualification for Europe’s top competition and are again making a fresh start under Ten Hag.
Ronaldo was scheduled to start training at Carrington on Monday with the rest of United’s international players, but the club granted him permission to take a long break due to “family circumstances.”
The team is due to depart for Bangkok on Friday, but sources have told ESPN that Ten Hag is still unsure of Ronaldo’s plans for this week’s training sessions in Manchester or his availability for the tour.
