Manchester United chiefs believe a 2015 move for Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is a non-starter. The London Evening Standard says United are resigned to the fact that a move to bring Ronaldo back to Old Trafford next summer would be unsuccessful.
The leading clubs in world football are expecting Ronaldo to be back on the market next May, as Real Madrid president Florentino Perez takes his last chance to recoup most of the £80m the Spanish side paid for the player, who will turn 30 in February.
But United feel that the summer of last year was their last realistic chance to sign the Portuguese and that the size of outlay required next summer - £140m including £380,000 in wages - will be too much. The player would have to take a substantial pay cut to make a United move viable - but there is no optimism at Old Trafford that he would be willing to do that.
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