Napoli have ruled out making a move to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United in the January transfer window.
The Serie A leaders were one of the sides linked with making a move to end Ronaldo’s Old Trafford misery, but it now appears he has now viable options to leave.
Napoli are flying high in the Italian top flight and were reportedly set to rekindle their interest in the 47-year-old forward, having been one of the sides keen in the summer.
But now club director Cristiano Giuntoli has insisted the Naples side have no plans to sign any new players when the transfer window reopens.
He told DAZN ahead of Napoli’s Champions League clash with Rangers: “Ronaldo in January? We won’t sign any player in January.
“We don’t need to change anything in this team. We’re doing great and we’re not planning any signing, as of today”.
Napoli aren’t alone, with Ronaldo’s boyhood club Sporting Lisbon earlier this week admitting they can’t afford to re-sign the superstar despite it being their ‘dream’ to.
That could be a blow to Ronaldo if he harboured hopes of leaving Old Trafford in January.
The Portugal captain was keen to depart in the summer and join a team competing in the Champions League, after United could only qualify for the Europa League this season.
But his options dried up as club after club pulled out of the running, and he ended up staying put.
Things have only gone from bad to worse for Ronaldo at United, with the forward recently kicked out of the first-team squad for a series of strops on the touchline – most recently storming down the tunnel after refusing to come on as a late substitute in a 2-0 win over Tottenham.
He was made to train alone away from his teammates and axed from the matchday squad for their 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the Premier League.
Ronaldo has since held showdown talks with manager Erik ten Hag, which appeared to go well with the veteran star now back in first-team training and in line to return to the team in Thursday’s Europa League clash against Moldovan minnows Sheriff Tiraspol.
Ten Hag was asked about Ronaldo’s future at the club in a recent interview, and he confirmed he expects the forward to remain a United player for the rest of the season.
Ronaldo is due to become a free agent at the end of the season, with his current contract expiring on June 30 2023 – but the club do have the option to extend it by a further year.
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