Cristiano Ronaldo: Tongue-in-cheek transfer escape route proposed, as TV chat with Roy Keane goes viral

Former Arsenal and Manchester City star Samir Nasri has offered Cristiano Ronaldo a solution to his situation at Manchester United – go and sign for Marseille.

Ronaldo is currently weighing up his options at Old Trafford after being left out of United’s starting line-up against Liverpool. United put in a sparkling performance to win 2-1 with Ronaldo appearing for the last four minutes from the bench.

The 37-year-old’s options have being narrowing all summer ever since it emerged he was looking to leave Old Trafford. New boss Erik ten Hag has always maintained there is a place for Ronaldo at United.

But after missing United’s pre-season tour and appearing only as a sub against Brighton, he was again axed on Monday night.

When warming up ahead of the game at Old Trafford, Ronaldo spoke to Gary Neville and Roy Keane after snubbing Jamie Carragher.

Keane asked why he was not playing, Ronaldo said: “What do you want me to do?”

“Get in the team,” replied Keane. “I know,” said Ronaldo.

The specifics of Ronaldo’s situation remain unclear, with the former Real Madrid man promising to reveal all soon.

When pressed about that potential interview, Ten Hag said on Monday: “I don’t know what he wants to achieve with that so if you want to know that you have to ask him.”

Ronaldo offered French escape route

He also reiterated his desire to keep Ronaldo, who remains under contract until 2023.

“That’s not what he’s telling us,” Ten Hag said when addressing reports of Ronaldo’s unrest.

“We plan with him and that has reasons, he scores goals. We are happy with him, we have to fit him in the system and the way we’re playing. That is what he’s trying and we’re trying.”

Nasri though, who is now a consultant for French TV channel Canal+ Sport, has the answer: “I have a solution for him.

“He can terminate his contract, they give him half his year and in Marseille they make an effort, they give him something and he comes to play in the Champions League. A Cristiano Ronaldo-Alexis Sanchez attack looks good,” Nasri said via Goal.

One of Ronaldo’s prerequisites for a move is that he continues playing Champions League football. Although there are believed to be other factors motivating Ronaldo’s wish to depart.

Termination talk

The Times claimed recently the United icon is also said to have “reasons” for moving his family from Manchester.

CBS Sports report Ronaldo is not convinced by Ten Hag’s tactics or methods. But his options for a move are pretty sparse.

Jorge Mendes has failed to engineer moves to Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan. And even if the comments from Nasri were made tongue in cheek, a move to France would give Ronaldo the chance of football at Europe’s top table.

Buying himself out of his contract is also a possibility that Mendes will undoubtedly be looking at.

Ronaldo has 12 months left on his current deal with the option of a further year. But United were quick to rebuff talks last week that a termination of the player’s deal could take place.

A spokesperson for the club said: “There is no change in the club’s position.”