What led to Cristiano Ronaldo staying at Manchester United?

Rumours linking Cristiano Ronaldo with virtually every top club in Europe were buzzing on social media almost the entire summer transfer window. Yet, Ronaldo remained at Manchester United as the window came to a close on September 01. But, what led to the Portuguese remaining at Old Trafford?

After reportedly facing rejection from the likes of Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli, etc., Ronaldo was linked with a deadline day move to his old club Sporting CP. But, no substantial talks were reported between the two parties. Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes is even said to have re-opened talks with a few clubs towards the end of the summer window but nothing substantial materialised.

In the end, Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag confirmed that the coveted forward will remain at the club and fulfill his contract. But, what led to a twist in the saga?

What seems to be the most likely reason behind Ronaldo's decision to continue at Manchester United is the lack of offers. Virtually every top club that Ronaldo's agent Mendes spoke to turned him down. For some, it was his salary that became a roadblock, for a few others, it was his age. Some even said that Ronaldo didn't suit the club's style of play.

A move to Sporting could've been on the cards but it also has to be understood that the Portuguese side simply can't afford to pay the kind of wages that Ronaldo enjoys at United. Also, the chances of Sporting challenging for the UEFA Champions League title are negligible, even with Ronaldo in the team.

When it comes to the Portuguese league title, Sporting have won only two Liga Portugal titles since the start of the 2021-22 season. Additionally, the Portuguese league isn't among the top 5 leagues in Europe which is a huge detriment too.

Considering the scarcity of offers from top European clubs, Ronaldo doesn't seem to have had a better option than to stay at United and be a part of the Erik Ten Hag project. Even the salary that the 37-year-old forward gets at United is pretty handsome considering the extent to which his impact has diminished since last season.

With United, Ronaldo will have the opportunity to feature in the Europa League, a competition he has never played, and possibly win the title. In doing so, he doesn't just give himself a chance of winning titles under Ten Hag but also continue his legacy at the club that played a big role in him becoming the sort of player he did.