Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract with Manchester United expires in June 2023 with an option to extend for another year.
Ronaldo’s future at Manchester United has come under scrutiny after the five-times Ballon d’Or winner was axed from the Manchester United first team squad for Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the Premier League after refusing to come on in the 86th minute against Tottenham.
There were rumors that the Portuguese superstar could leave Manchester United in January as Napoli are ready to offer Ronaldo a chance at Champions League football.
Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has refused those rumors and insisted that Cristiano Ronaldo will remain a Manchester United player till the end of the season.
The 37-year-old was seen at the first-team training at Carrington ahead of Manchester United Europe League clash with Sheriff on Thursday.
However, Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has urged Manchester United to terminate Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract and allow him to leave in January as his contract expires in June.
What did Simon Jordan say?
Speaking on the White and Jordan show via Talksports, Simon Jordan said: “I would absolutely – in terms of being serious – I would consider ripping up his contract if it continued in the same vein.
“Because they paid what, £15million/£16m for him, right? So he’s two years into a contract, that’s left on their balance sheet of about £4m/£5m, it’s a non-decision.
“If he wants to go and the problems are still there, and it’s not a circle that you could square, what’s the aggregation value?
“Some would say the share price might depreciate, I don’t think so. Some might say they might lose shirt sales, but I’m not sure.
“I think the bottom line is, is that if it were the same problems that we’re encountering now as we’re led to believe, it’s an exercise in futility.
“What’s the point? If your team is doing OK, United are in the ascendency and the situation between Ronaldo and the club and the manager continues, it’s an exercise in futility as I have just said.
“For £5m worth of capital value on your balance sheet when you’re turning over £500m and the aggregation value of your manager probably supersedes £5m, what would be the point?”
Jordan added: “It’s not a long-term play, he’s going to go at the end of the season.
“So what would be the point of holding him for another four months so we can listen to ever-increasing newspaper headlines about the uproar at Manchester United?
“I would absolutely rip up what’s left of his contract because it’s not worth anything! You’re not going to sell him for anything are you?”
Meanwhile, Stuart Pearce has insisted that Manchester United should have let Cristiano Ronaldo leave in the summer.
“When I was asked the question in the summer about would Ronaldo have a future at Manchester United beyond this summer, I said I thought a new manager coming in, a senior pro like Ronaldo, I thought it would be best for both parties to split,” the former West Ham first team coach said on Talksports.
“I thought Ronaldo needed to go somewhere where he’s guaranteed to start.
“What I admire him for is he wants to play all the games and it hurts him to be sat on the bench, albeit his age, he’s an ultimate professional in that respect.
“But obviously he’s not getting enough game time and the frustration for both… I think we all know now the best path for both would be a separation in January.
“It’s probably come six months too late I think.”
