The director of Italian side Napoli has denied rumours that the club were involved in talks over a possible move for Cristiano Ronaldo towards the end of the transfer window.
The Portuguese forward was believed to have asked to leave United during the summer, citing their failure to qualify for the Champions League as his main reason for wanting to depart.
A number of clubs, including Chelsea and Atletico Madrid, were linked with the Portugal international, but a move never materialised.
Napoli emerged as surprise contenders for the player’s signature in the closing stages of the window but, again, a deal was never agreed.
Now, as reported by Fabrizio Romano, Napoli director Cristiano Giuntoli has insisted that the club were never in talks to sign the forward.
“I’m sorry to say that but we’ve never been in real negotiations with Man United to sign Cristiano Ronaldo this summer,” he is quoted as saying.
Ronaldo was never in talks with Napoli, reports suggest
Ronaldo, 37, returned to Old Trafford last summer having departed in 2009 for Real Madrid.
The forward’s first season back didn’t disappoint, as the ex-Juventus man scored 24 goals across all competitions, including 18 in the Premier League.
At his age, though, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is said to be intent on continuing to compete for trophies and play in the Champions League, during what are likely to be the final few years of his illustrious career.
Ronaldo has only started one of United’s six matches so far this season, with Erik ten Hag blaming the player missing much of pre-season for his decision, The Telegraph claims.
Napoli, meanwhile, have started the season strongly, winning three of their Serie A matches so far and drawing the other two.
The Italian side host Liverpool on Wednesday in the opening round of Champions League group stage fixtures.