Sporting Lisbon president refuses to rule out Cristiano Ronaldo return

The 37-year-old has likely played his last game for Manchester United, having taken part in an explosive interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV, which has seen him be highly critical of the Red Devils, including their head coach Erik ten Hag and owners the Glazers.

Ronaldo is expected to leave Old Trafford in January, with Sporting believed to be considering a move to re-sign the player that left for Man United in 2003 after coming through their academy.

Varandas said that the Portuguese giants are not currently considering a return for the forward, but he refused to rule out a deal taking place at the end of the season.

"Not now, I don't think that will be possible," Varandas told DTP3. "But we never know. He can decide where he can go. But you never know the future.

"I don't want to talk a lot about that because when we speak about Cristiano it is quite different. I think he has one more year on his contract, so whatever he decides, let's see."

However, Varandas has denied that his side were in the running for Ronaldo over the summer.

"He will always be the reference of Sporting's academy and the best Portuguese player ever," he added.

"There are several ways to be at Sporting stadium. Now, I'm not going to make noise. If Ruben Amorim (Sporting manager) vetoed the return? Of course not. It was never even a topic or was on the table.

"There was never a conversation with me, with Hugo Viana (Sporting sporting director) or Amorim. This topic never existed. I know it sells a lot in the press."

Sporting boss Amorim was questioned on Ronaldo's shock interview earlier this week, and he said that "everyone at Sporting likes him" when asked about the club's former player.

"I've been asked this question a thousand times. Ronaldo is a Manchester United player," Amorim told O Jogo.

"Everyone at Sporting likes him, there's not much to say. He himself says he wants to do things in peace to follow his future. He will decide his future.

"I won't be here telling you how things are for me. In the summer it became obvious that things don't all pass me by. There's the club, there's the structure. He's a Manchester United player."

Ronaldo's contract with Man United is due to expire next June, but Man United are said to be considering sacking the Portuguese due to his controversial discussion with Morgan, which will be aired in full on Wednesday and Thursday night.