Ronaldo wants to leave Saudi Arabia, MU is negotiating to sign Manuel Locatelli.
Cristiano Ronaldo is considering activating a clause to leave Al Nassr and return to Sporting CP, while Manchester United are stepping up negotiations with Manuel Locatelli and aiming to retain Kobbie Mainoo.
The global football transfer market is witnessing major upheavals at top clubs. The focus is on Saudi Arabia, where the relationship between Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr is on the verge of complete collapse.
Ronaldo and Al Nassr: An irreparable rift?
A crisis is brewing at Al Nassr as superstar Cristiano Ronaldo publicly expresses his discontent. According to reports from The I Paper, the 41-year-old striker has missed two consecutive matches and is reportedly boycotting the club. The cause stems from disagreements regarding support from the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) during the recent winter transfer window.
Ronaldo is seriously considering activating his £43 million release clause next summer to return to his boyhood club Sporting CP. Facing the prospect of losing their biggest icon, Saudi Pro League officials have begun planning for a replacement. Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes are two of the top names being targeted to maintain the league's appeal.
Manchester United strengthens midfield with Manuel Locatelli.
Besides retaining their key players, Manchester United are actively searching for new faces in midfield. Calciomercato reports that the Old Trafford club has begun contacting the representatives of Manuel Locatelli. The Italian midfielder is considered one of Juventus' most important players, and a move to the Premier League would be a major turning point in his career.
This move comes after Juventus suffered a disastrous week, being eliminated from the Coppa Italia by Atalanta. Manchester United believe that the experience and ability to control the game of the former Sassuolo star would be the perfect addition to the current manager's squad.
The plan to retain "gem" Kobbie Mainoo
Alongside recruiting new players, the Red Devils are also taking decisive action to protect Kobbie Mainoo from interest from Napoli and other European giants. According to talkSPORT, the club's management is willing to quadruple his current salary to persuade the young midfielder to sign a new long-term contract. The England international's current contract runs until 2027, but Man Utd wants to finalize his future soon to avoid risks in negotiations.
Changes at Liverpool and Real Madrid
At Anfield, Liverpool's top priority is stabilizing their defense. Football Insider reports that The Kop's representatives are working to extend Ibrahima Konate's contract. The French international is entering the prime of his career and is considered an irreplaceable pillar in the Merseyside club's defensive system.
Conversely, Trent Alexander-Arnold's future at Real Madrid is in serious doubt. Despite being a highly anticipated transfer, the current situation leaves the right-back's future uncertain. Notably, Liverpool have decided not to enter the race to re-sign their former player. Instead, Manchester City and Bayern Munich are closely monitoring developments at the Bernabeu.
Inter Milan and Newcastle join the race to sign him.
Weston McKennie's future at Juventus is also becoming uncertain. Despite being a priority for the club, the American midfielder has yet to agree to extend his contract, which expires in June. Inter Milan CEO Beppe Marotta is reportedly planning to bring McKennie to the Giuseppe Meazza stadium on a free transfer. Meanwhile, teams in Major League Soccer (MLS) are also open to bringing the star back to his homeland.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United are leading the race to sign Curtis Jones from Liverpool. With the 25-year-old's contract expiring in 2027, the Magpies see this as an ideal opportunity to add quality to their midfield, especially as they need potential replacements for Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.
