EPL: Ronaldo makes a surprise move to a Champions League club

Cristiano Ronaldo, a forward for Manchester United, is about to make an unexpected switch to Sporting Lisbon, a Champions League team.

Ruben Amorim, the coach of Sporting Lisbon, has admitted that the Portuguese team is “dreaming” of acquiring Ronaldo from Manchester United.

Tuesday marked the first time since his refusal to enter as a late substitute in last week’s 2-0 Premier League triumph over Tottenham that Ronaldo has trained with Man United’s first team.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who was anxious to leave Old Trafford in the summer, was excluded from the team that drew 1-1 with Chelsea last weekend by Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag for his act of disobedience.

The 37-year-old has been strongly linked with a move away from Manchester United when the transfer window reopens in January.

However, Ronaldo’s departure from Sporting Lisbon, where his career began, has also been suggested.

Amorim has now acknowledged that Sporting Lisbon lacks the funds necessary to pay Ronaldo’s salaries since the Portugal captain would have to accept a hefty pay reduction to return to his old team.

“Ronaldo is a top player,” Amorim said at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sporting Lisbon’s Champions League clash with Tottenham on Wednesday.

“He is a Manchester United player. Everybody in Sporting dreams of the return for Cristiano, but we don’t have the money to pay his wages.

“I think he is happy in Manchester but is not playing, so that is the problem.

“But I have my problems, so it is Ten Hag’s problem! I am very happy with my players, no problem at all at the moment.”

Between 1997 and 2002, Ronaldo played for Sporting Lisbon for five years.