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Ammon News -

Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo is yet to play a pre-season friendly this summer, but is in the squad to face Rayo Vallecano on Sunday; he still wants to leave the club to be able to play in the Champions League and compete for major trophies; United do not want him to go.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a long way behind the rest of the Manchester United squad in terms of fitness, Erik ten Hag said, with games needed to get the forward up to speed.

Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes held meetings with United at Carrington on Tuesday, but his position remains unchanged and he wants to play for a club in the Champions League and win major trophies.

United do not want him to go, however. The Portugal international, who has a year left on his United deal, did not join the squad for their pre-season tour to Thailand and Australia and was not included in the squad for Saturday's 1-0 friendly defeat to Atletico Madrid in Oslo.

He suggested on Instagram he would feature in United's final pre-season friendly match against Rayo at Old Trafford, saying: "Sunday, the King plays".

"Tomorrow he will be in the squad," Ten Hag told Viaplay after his side's loss. "We'll see how long he can play,"

"I cannot tell in this moment (how fit he is). He is not on the level of the rest of the squad because he missed a lot of weeks. But he needs games and he needs training, a lot."

His potential options elsewhere are limited. Chelsea are not an option anymore, while Bayern Munich and Atletico appeared to publicly rule themselves out this week.

Atletico fans displayed a banner stating 'CR7 not welcome' at a pre-season friendly on Wednesday.

*SKY