‘That’s why Cristiano Ronaldo is leaving’

Cristiano Ronaldo is leaving Manchester United due to a “lack of ambition” at the club, according to United Stand host Mark Goldbridge.

Ronaldo, 37, has made it clear that he sees his future away from Old Trafford as he looks to continue playing in the Champions League.

The Portuguese talisman has missed pre-season training for the second consecutive day for ‘family reasons’.

United are unsure if Ronaldo will return to the club in time to join their pre-season tour, talkSPORT understands.

Erik ten Hag’s side fly to Bangkok on Friday for a lucrative 16-day trip that also includes matches in Australia.

Ronaldo has asked United to consider offers for him this summer, but the club insist their most famous player is not for sale.

talkSPORT regular Goldbridge wasn’t saddened by the Portugal superstar for wanting to leave, but he is concerned that the Red Devils may not catch up with their rivals due to a lack of transfer activity.

“I still believe that if we had the good summer that I wanted us to have, we would still be fourth and winning the Europa League is what can be achieved in the first year,” Goldbridge told talkSPORT.

“Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City have the top four spots for me.

“So it’s Spurs, Arsenal, Manchester United and any other team that has a good season for fourth place.

“That is the limit, and that is not Erik ten Hag’s fault. With this transfer window, and what Spurs and Arsenal are doing, he could be fifth or sixth, and that’s never good enough.

“This is what Cristiano Ronaldo is doing. It’s not good enough for Manchester United. The ambition has to be from above and it is not there.

“The fans can dress however they want, but Ronaldo is leaving because there is a lack of ambition at Manchester United, and I agree with that.”

Both Tottenham and Arsenal have been very active in the transfer window so far.

The Gunners signed Gabriel Jesus for £45m from Manchester City, and also recruited Fabio Vieira from Porto, youngster Marquinhos from Sao Paulo and goalkeeper Matt Turner from the New England Revolution, respectively.

Spurs, on the other hand, have been just as busy, spending £60m on Richarlison from Everton, while bringing in Yves Bissouma from Brighton, Ivan Perisic from Inter Milan and Fraser Forster from Southampton.

United are yet to get off the ground in the transfer window and have struggled to get deals down the line, with a move for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong dragging on.

However, Christian Eriksen is expected to join the Ten Hag squad, and 22-year-old left-back Tyrell Malacia has been confirmed as a signing.

If United want to compete with the likes of Arsenal and Spurs next season, they will need to bring in several more signings before the end of September for Ten Hag to establish his authority on their side, or they could end up facing another lackluster campaign.