Cristiano Ronaldo
January 2026

Cristiano Ronaldo is again being linked with an exit after sitting out matches in protest over Saudi league transfer politics, but reporting says Manchester United are not positioning themselves to bring him back for a third spell. Ronaldo is frustrated about how PIF-backed clubs have strengthened and has effectively applied pressure by missing games, while the league has publicly pushed back on any suggestion he can dictate decisions. Reports also claim a release clause could be triggered in the summer, keeping global interest alive even if United do not move.