Ronaldo cites ‘heat of moment’ after left off Manchester United squad
Ronaldo said on Sunday he had been left off national team for a ‘heat of the moment’ decision but was not unhappy with his club.
Manchester United failed to land the Portugal international after a £58million move to the Premier League club collapsed on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old’s agent Jorge Mendes had made it clear that if United did not take him he would expect the move to be scrapped.
But the player himself said he was not unhappy with United after a phone call with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward who had offered him the chance to make the move permanent.
“The main thing is the heat of the moment,” the former Inter Milan star told reporters in the Manchester City dressing room.
“I’m here at Manchester United. I’m happy, I’m in the dressing room. I’m not trying to be disrespectful.
“I want to stay. I’m happy with Manchester United, I’m happy with my team-mates.
“The decision has not been mine. I’m not talking about that. I have some people that are very close to me who I wanted to stay. I wanted to be in Manchester, and I’m happy with Manchester United, especially the people in my team-mates.”
The Portuguese had been on the verge of agreeing a £100,000-a-week contract with the United manager’s team but Woodward said it had fallen through.
“It was a bit of a shock to the system,” said Ronaldo, who has been linked with a return to Juventus. “We were very close to signing.
“I was very happy to put my name to the contract, I am very happy now to hear that we have not signed him. That does not mean I am unhappy. I am just saying, it is a little setback for me.”
Ronaldo and his agent are understood to be considering a move to a club in Turkey. But that will require approval from the Turkish Football Association, which would not happen until Tuesday.
With United now in the Premier League, the Portuguese is yet
