Cristiano Ronaldo. Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Manchester United manager insists Cristiano Ronaldo is not for sale

Immediately after news broke that Cristiano Ronaldo wasn't with Manchester United for their preseason friendlies in Asia and Australia, rumors ran wild that he was on his way out of Old Trafford. 

But Man U. manager Erik ten Hag is maintaining that the international soccer star is away from the team for personal reasons and nothing more -- and that he is absolutely not for sale.

"We are planning for Cristiano Ronaldo for the season and that's it," ten Hag said in a press conference on Monday, via ESPN. "I'm looking forward to working with him. I have read [that he wants to leave], but what I say is Cristiano is not for sale, he is in our plans and we want success together.

"I spoke with him before this issue came up, I had a conversation with him and I had a good talk. That is between Cristiano and me, what I can confirm is we had a really good conversation together."

Reports that Ronaldo wants to leave Manchester United and play for a competitor arose almost as soon as the Premier League season ended. Rumors surfaced last week that Chelsea has a strong interest in him, although the club never made an official statement about it.  

Manchester United finished sixth on the Premier League table last season. Ronaldo ranked third in the league with 18 goals.

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