Cristiano Ronaldo taken aback as Man Utd offer alternative transfer exit option

Manchester United are ready to let Cristiano Ronaldo leave this summer - but only on-loan.

And in return they want the 37-year-old superstar to trigger a one-year-option clause to EXTEND his contract so he can return to Old Trafford next summer for a final swansong - hopefully in the Champions League.

Ronaldo has asked to leave this summer to play Champions League football next season and has still not returned to training after being granted time off for personal family reasons.

But in recent talks with the striker's agent Jorges Mendes, it's understood United asked Ronaldo to consider taking up the one year option that was available to both sides and part of his agreement when he joined from Juventus in a £12.9 million deal a year ago.

United would then sanction a one-season loan deal to a Champions League club in Europe - with Atletico Madrid interested in the Portuguese goal machine.

Ronaldo would then return to Old Trafford next summer to see out a final campaign - with United hopeful they may be in a position to challenge for a Champions League place this season.

Senior United officials aren't banking on a successful first year under new Dutch boss Erik ten Hag, but there's an expectation that they should be able to compete for a top four finish.

That would offer Ronaldo the chance to extend his Champions League love affair with one more season in Europe's elite competition before a final hurrah, possibly in the MLS in America.

It's a bargaining chip that's said to have taken Mendes and Ronaldo by surprise. But so far, say Old Trafford sources, it's a proposal that's as yet not been rejected.

It would also satisfy headline sponsors like Team Viewer who are disappointed Ronaldo wants to leave after just one season.

Ronaldo is still considered box office in terms of world-wide reach and United's raft of sponsors, especially those with a Far East presence, want to maximise their exposure in those markets.

It's believed United have had no concrete offers for Ronaldo who has a current market value of £27million based on calculations used within the football industry.

That's based on a whole raft of factors including fitness, experience, playing and commercial value and current performance.

Ronaldo scores high on the last criteria after bagging 24 goals in all competitions in a season when United struggled badly.

United's public stance is to continue to insist Ronaldo must stay and fulfil his contractural obligations despite a happy past history between club and player.

Privately, though, they acknowledge it would be difficult and potentially disruptive to ten Hag's plans to keep an unhappy Ronaldo.

The former Ajax manager is working hard to create a better harmony within the dressing room after divisions, disputes and cliques disrupted last season.

The early signs are that ten Hag has put a halt to that mentality and senior stars have totally bought into his philosophy and ideas.

Ten Hag arrives back in Manchester with his squad today (SUNDAY) after United concluded their tour of Asia and Australia against Aston Villa in Perth having already beaten Liverpool 4-0, Melbourne Victory 4-1 and Crystal Palace 3-1.

He's planned another tough week of intense conditioning and tactical sessions before they fly to Norway to face Atletico Madrid at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo on Saturday.