Cristiano Ronaldo running 'punishment' laps amid Borussia Dortmund links

It was said earlier this week that Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag had changed his mind about Cristiano Ronaldo and could allow the superstar to leave Old Trafford to sign for a Champions League team "due to concerns over his behavior" and if Ten Hag decided that Ronaldo's "departure would be better for the club going forward." 

There's a new update on the situation ahead of the weekend. 

Following back-to-back losses to open the Premier League season that have United at the bottom of the table, CBS Sports' Ben Jacobs is reporting that Ten Hag has Ronaldo running "punishment" laps in training. Jacobs also notes that agent Jorge Mendes "is actively working" on a deal that could see CR7 join German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund before Sept. 1.

Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli are among clubs previously reported to have declined chances to land Ronaldo this summer. Jacobs confirmed Atletico Madrid "ended their interest" and that "Chelsea are also out of the race" to acquire the 37-year-old. 

Instead, Dortmund are now seen as Ronaldo's "last hope" of making an exit from Manchester before the summer transfer window closes. 

Eyebrows were raised when Jacobs reported in July that Ronaldo was willing to "take a significant pay cut, potentially as high as 30 percent" to leave United ahead of Champions League fixtures. Jacobs added Thursday that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner "may even consider an even bigger decrease" in pay and "would also accept a multiyear contract with a salary drop in the second year" to join Dortmund ASAP. 

Ronaldo missed United's preseason tour of Thailand and Australia for alleged "family reasons" amid rumors stating that he wanted to move elsewhere. Jacobs wrote that "Ten Hag felt blindsided by Ronaldo's absence from much of preseason" and that there remains "tension" between the two. 

It's unclear if Ten Hag would start or sit Ronaldo for this coming Monday's clash with rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford if the player hasn't relocated to Germany by then.