The Portuguese ace is under contract at Old Trafford until 2023 with the option of a third season included in his deal.
Ralf Rangnick has admitted Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United future remains up in the air for now.
The 37-year-old scored United’s equalizer in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Thursday. It was his 23rd goal of the season across all competitions. In doing so, he moved level with Tottenham’s Son Heung-min as the Premier League’s second-highest scorer with 17 goals to his name.
But as United appear on the brink of failing to qualify for next season’s Champions League, doubts have automatically been cast on Ronaldo’s future.
🗣 "He can still be a great help for this team."
Ralf Rangnick is asked whether Cristiano Ronaldo can be at the heart of Man United next season under Erik ten Hag pic.twitter.com/C0qFP9vwyc
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 28, 2022
‘It is Erik’s and Cristiano’s decision’
Now Rangnick has revealed he is yet to speak with incoming United boss Erik ten Hag about his plans for Ronaldo, who hasn’t clarified if he wants to stay at Old Trafford so far.
“We will have to speak about it between us; with Erik [ten Hag], myself and the board,” the interim manager told reporters about Ronaldo’s future.
“Cristiano has another year of [his] contract and it’s also important to see and find out what Cristiano wants to do and see if he wants to stay.
“I haven’t been able to speak with Erik so far and it doesn’t make sense to speak about it right now.”
While the German again emphasized the club’s need for new strikers, he still backed Ronaldo to be a ‘big help’ for next season in wake of another fine performance on Thursday.
Rangnick added to Sky Sports: “Not only the goal Cristiano scored but his whole performance, his attitude at the age of 37, this is not normal to do that. If he plays like he did today, he can still be a big help to this team.
“It is Erik’s and Cristiano’s decision for what he can do next but today his performance was really great.”
Ronaldo and United return to action on Monday against Brentford for their final home game of the Premier League season.