Erik ten Hag sent Cristiano Ronaldo message after Man Utd transfer 'ultimatum'

Erik ten Hag has been advised on how to get the best out of the Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo by his former teammate John O'Shea.

Ronaldo has reportedly become frustrated by the fact that United are yet to make a signing since the summer transfer window opened. That is despite a raft of departures from the first-team squad at Old Trafford at the end of their contracts including Edinson Cavani, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic and Lee Grant.

Ronaldo is said to believe in the attacking football Ten Hag wants to play but his club's struggles in the market have set him on edge.

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is United's prime summer transfer target and he held a phone call recently with Ten Hag during which the new United manager outlined the role the player would enjoy under him as part of a charm offensive. Reports this weekend outlined how the midfielder has already cleared out his locker at Barca with a move appearing to edge closer.

Yet the club are not increasing any other transfer activity until they can secure a move for the Dutch international. United's situation is said to be worrying Ronaldo, who rejoined them last year from Juventus after 12 years away - only for the Red Devils to finish a whopping 35 points off title winners Manchester City.

Ronaldo has already dished out plenty of his praise for his new manager, notably telling manutd.com : "What I know about him is he did a fantastic job for Ajax, that he's an experienced coach. But we need to give him time. Things need to change the way he wants. I hope we have success, of course, because, if you have success, all of Manchester is going to have success as well. I wish him the best.

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"We are happy and excited, not only as players, but the supporters as well. I wish him the best and let's believe that, next year, we are going to win trophies."

Ten Hag returned the compliment on the Portuguese star, saying of Ronaldo: "I am looking forward to working with him. Ronaldo is a giant, because of what he has already shown, and I think he is still very ambitious. Of course I want to keep him in. He has been very important for Manchester United this year and can show great statistics."

United's former versatile defender O'Shea - who played alongside Ronaldo for his first stint of six seasons at Old Trafford - has now added that while Ronaldo is critical to United's ambitions for next season, Ten Hag will have to use him in the best way.

"Cristiano Ronaldo will want to be the key man for Manchester United next season but there'll be discussions and Erik ten Hag said in his first press conference that he'll have those with Ronaldo in person, rather than telling the media," O'Shea has said, speaking to Paddy Power.

"When you see what he does and the goals he brings to the team, having Cristiano there is going to be an asset and I'm sure the new manager will get that across to him. He brings goals and every team wants goals - they're so crucial.

"Every manager wants new attackers and new signings, but he'll have Cristiano Ronaldo in his side who can produce hat tricks, winning goals and amazing quality. He'll want to play every game as always and what's wrong with that? But the manager has to control that and make sure he uses him in the right way."