Ajax boss, Erik ten Hag has already made his feelings clear on Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of his potential appointment as Manchester United’s permanent manager, according to Manchester Evening News
Ten Hag is now leading in the list of managers lined up to take over from interim boss, Ralf Rangnick in the summer.
The Dutchman is now the preferred candidate to become the next permanent boss at Old Trafford.
Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino is another manager under serious consideration by the club while Thomas Tuchel of Chelsea has also entered the race amid the ongoing uncertainty at Stamford Bridge.
The newspaper said the United hierarchy have been impressed by Ten Hag’s ability to assemble two successful teams under two seasons following the departure of Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong and many others from the Ajax squad in 2019.
The 52-year-old is under contract at Ajax until next year and would command a relatively low compensation fee. Should he make the move to Old Trafford, he would face a huge task this summer.
The likes of Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial all look set to leave, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s future is uncertain.
For Ronaldo, the Portugal international still has one more year left on his deal after making his return to Old Trafford from Juventus last summer.
But the former Real Madrid superstar could look to move on, particularly if Manchester United fails to qualify for the Champions League next reason.
Ten Hag, though, has already suggested he is an admirer of Ronaldo’s, which could leave the door open for him to stay.