The manager of one of Cristiano Ronaldo's former clubs currently competing in the UEFA Champions League has admitted that re-signing the under-fire Manchester United star would be a "dream".
The Portuguese forward recently reached a consensus with Erik ten Hag and returned to first-team training following his exclusion from the matchday squad for United's game against Chelsea at the weekend.
Read: Man Utd 'make decision' on dropped Ronaldo
While Ronaldo is now understood to be committed to the Dutchman's project for the next few months, recent reports suggest that the Manchester club is open to parting ways with the striker in January, while the player himself is believed to still be keen for an exit following the minimal game time he has received this season.
In the most recent transfer window, a number of clubs were said to be interested in the 37-year-old, including Sporting Lisbon, Chelsea and Napoli, among others, but a move failed to materialise.
Sporting manager Ruben Amorim has now admitted that his club would love to re-sign the player, but added that there is a major stumbling block to the potential transfer.
"I don't know," the 37-year-old answered when asked if Ronaldo could return to his boyhood club, per Football London.
"Ronaldo is a top player, a Manchester United player.
"Everyone in Sporting dreams of the return of Cristiano, so I don't want to speak about that. He's a Manchester United player, a top player, and he will be for a few months.
"I'm going to respond the same way as a lot of journalists in Portugal ask me that question a lot. He is a Manchester United player.
"Everybody in Sporting dreams of the return for Cristiano, but we don't have the money to pay his wages.
"I think he is happy in Manchester but is not playing so that is the problem."
Read: Man Utd 'close in' on ex-LFC transfer guru who signed Mane Salah
Chelsea and Napoli both reportedly remain interested in the forward, who could be available to be snapped up in January.
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