Cristiano Ronaldo News: To Napoli? Agent pursues Champions League club only to be shot down quickly

Despite persistent transfer rumours, Victor Osimhen's agent asserted that no talks between his client and Manchester United had taken place.

This season's Champions League will pit Napoli against United's fierce rivals Liverpool, Rangers, and Dutch champions Ajax.

The Red Devils will only participate in the second-tier Europa League after placing a disappointing sixth in the Premier League last time, despite the striker's 18 league goals. Ronaldo is eager to play in Europe's premier competition.

Cristiano Ronaldo's agent pursued the Napoli deal

According to sources in Italy, Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes was reportedly trying to arrange a swap deal with Napoli in which Osimhen would go the other way as Ronaldo pursues a move away from Manchester United.

However, Roberto Calenda, the Nigerian striker's agent, promptly refuted those assertions.

Before their recent acquisition of Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City, Premier League heavyweights United, Chelsea, and Arsenal all showed interest in Osimhen.

The 23-year-old left Lille to join Napoli in 2020, and in 53 games, he has scored 26 league goals.

It is difficult to see how Manchester United could afford Osimhen with the money they are willing to spend to purchase Antony from Ajax because Napoli is going to demand a significant sum in addition to a swap deal and would only accept a triple-digit offer for him.

However, Ronaldo was a target for Napoli when it was initially reported that he intended to leave Old Trafford earlier this summer.

On Friday afternoon, Osimhen's agent addressed the rumours on Twitter. He said, "No negotiations in progress, no exchanges.

"Victor Osimhen is a Napoli player and wants to play the Champions League with Napoli after winning it on the pitch with pride together with the coach and teammates."

If the rumours tying Osimhen to Manchester United are untrue, it will leave the Red Devils scurrying to find a striker.

Given that the transfer window is closing in a matter of days, Erik ten Hag's situation is far from ideal.

Rafael Leo coming from AC Milan to United in the other direction was Mendes' alternative proposal, but Milan rejected it, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.

If Manchester United can find a suitable replacement, Ronaldo might get his wish to leave abroad for personal reasons.

Sporting finished second in the Primeira Liga last season, and the club is in the Champions League, where they were placed in a group with Tottenham, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Marseille. On paper, a return to the Portuguese capital with Sporting would make some sense.

Ronaldo's high salary is a genuine concern for Ruben Amorim's team, and a United source has indicated that the transfer is unlikely to place.

The 189-cap international played one complete season of senior football with Sporting before making his debut with United in 2003, where he became a world-famous superstar. Before returning to Manchester in 2021, he moved to Real Madrid and Juventus.

As the transfer market enters its final few days, everything for Manchester United is starting to seem desperate.

Ronaldo's potential departure seems extremely unlikely, but this may not impact Ten Hag's search for a different striker.

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