Ten Hag: Ronaldo could stay at Manchester United beyond 2023

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes Cristiano Ronaldo could remain at the club for at least a year.

"Yes," Ten Hag replied when asked if Ronaldo could stay for the new season and beyond the expiration of his contract in June 2023, The Guardian's Jamie Jackson reports.

Ten Hag indicated it's Ronaldo's decision to exercise the option to extend the deal by an additional year.

Throughout his managerial career, Ten Hag has preferred his teams to play in a high-pressing style. The Dutchman insisted he's not concerned about Ronaldo's ability to execute this gameplan at the age of 37.

"I have set my demand. We want to play in a certain way," Ten Hag said Monday, according to The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell. "A top player can contribute, and Ronaldo is an absolute top player in our squad. Cristiano is capable of doing that. In his career, he has shown everything.

"The players dictate the way you play. Especially players who score goals because they are extremely important for a team. You construct your team around them."

Ronaldo requested a move from United on June 2 due to his reported disenchantment with the club's summer transfer dealings. He would also like to play in the Champions League, but United only qualified for the Europa League via their sixth-placed finish in the Premier League last season.

It's understood that Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain have all distanced themselves from the Portuguese forward despite his apparent openness to accepting a pay cut to ease his exit from Old Trafford. Ronaldo reportedly rejected a two-year contract offer worth €275 million from an unnamed Saudi Arabian club and took to social media on Sunday to refute rumors he could return to Sporting CP.

The attacker didn't travel on United's preseason jaunts to Thailand and Australia, citing family reasons, and he hasn't spoken to Ten Hag since asking to leave United.