A new club has reportedly entered the race to sign Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo in the January transfer window.
The Red Devils are reportedly open to parting ways with the Portuguese forward after he caused a stir in pre-season by demanding an exit from the club, while he has also often cut a frustrated figure under Erik ten Hag's reign this season.
Read: Man Utd 'make decision' on dropped Ronaldo
With the Dutchman at the helm, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial have, more often than not, been picked as the team's central attacker ahead of the 37-year-old.
To add to Ronaldo's frustrations, the striker has struggled to replicate the goalscoring prowess he showed in the 2021/22 campaign, when he ended the season with 24 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions. This time around, the forward has just two goals in 12 appearances this season.
He was also recently excluded from training with the first team and the matchday squad for United's the game against Chelsea on Saturday following his refusal to come on as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur last week – he has since been recalled to the first team fold, though, and is in contention for the Red Devils' UEFA Europa League tie against Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday.
According to The Sun, however, with the Portugal captain still keen on an exit from Old Trafford, Ronaldo could have the opportunity to leave in January, with Serie A side Napoli interested in signing the superstar.
It is further claimed that he is also willing to take a pay cut in order to ensure that the move goes through.
With Ronaldo believed to be earning £360 000 (R7.5 million) a week in Manchester, though, he would have to see a steep decrease in his earnings if he is to match Napoli's highest-paid player Piotr Zielinski, who walks away with a reported weekly salary of £90 000 (R1.8 million).
Read: EPL club 'showing interest' in signing Ronaldo
Another club said to be interested in making a move for Ronaldo at the turn of the year is Chelsea, with new co-owner Todd Boehly, who wanted to sign the forward in the previous transfer window, understood to still be keen to see if a deal can be made.
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WATCH: TEN HAG REVEALS THAT RONALDO REFUSED TO COME ON AS A SUBSTITUTE AGAINST SPURS