"It's true I want to sign him

Cristiano Ronaldo has been offered an unlikely escape route from his Manchester United nightmare - after Corinthians president Duilio Monteiro Alves confessed that he wants to do a deal.

Ronaldo only sealed his sensational return to Old Trafford last summer, but the 37-year-old is desperate to make a speedy exit in the wake of United's disastrous 2021-22 season. The former Juventus man has spent the last 19 years starring in the Champions League, but United failed to qualify for Europe's biggest club competition.

United's absence from the Champions League is a major factor behind Ronaldo's desire to force an exit along with a belief that they cannot compete for silverware in new boss Erik ten Hag's debut season. Publicly, the club have reiterated that they have no appetite to sell their talisman, who plundered 24 goals in all competitions last year.

Even though Ronaldo has made it clear that he wants to leave, a move for the veteran striker has failed to materialise, with various big-name suitors, including Chelsea and Bayern Munich, snubbing a move for the former Real Madrid star.

Ronaldo's old side Sporting Lisbon are the latest club to be credited with an interest in landing the prolific forward but he's understood to not want to return to his boyhood club.

And now Corinthians have made it clear that they would be willing to offer Ronaldo a career lifeline, according to Alves, who told Ulissescast, via Mundo Deportivo, that the Brazilian outfit are keeping tabs on his situation and could launch a sensational swoop.

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Alves said: "It's true, I dream big. This is Corinthians! Aren't Willian and Renato Augusto here? In football everything is possible and I have the obligation to give my best for Corinthians.

"Is it possible? I don't know. We didn't try, we didn't investigate, there was no such possibility, but we are keeping an eye on him. Imagine that he suddenly wants to play in Brazil..."

It remains to be seen if Ronaldo would seriously consider the idea of joining the Brazilian outfit.

Ronaldo played just 45 minutes of United's pre-season - during their final fixture against Rayo Vallecano last weekend - and was seen leaving the ground before the conclusion of the fixture, much to Ten Hag's displeasure.

As a result, was not expected to start the club's Premier League opener against Brighton this weekend. However, with Anthony Martial - who led the line impressively for Ten Hag's side in pre-season - ruled out, Ronaldo could now be in line for a prominent role.