Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly hopeful that he will have secured a move away from Manchester United before the end of the week.
The Portugal international is believed to have told the Red Devils at the start of July that he wanted to leave the club this summer in order to continue playing in the Champions League in the new season.
Ronaldo did not feature during Man United's pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia due to a personal problem, while he was also absent for Saturday's clash with Atletico Madrid.
The 37-year-old was included in the squad against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, though, and he played the opening 45 minutes of the pre-season fixture at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo is still said to be intent on leaving the 20-time English champions before the end of the transfer window despite Man United insisting that he is not for sale.
According to AS, Ronaldo wants his future resolved before the start of the new Premier League campaign, with the forward hopeful that he will have secured an exit by the end of the week.
The Portuguese's agent Jorge Mendes is said to have held talks with a number of Champions League clubs over a move for his client in the current market.
However, the likes of Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea have ruled themselves out of the running for his signature.
Atletico Madrid and Napoli are still said to be in the mix for the striker, although both clubs would have to make a huge financial effort to bring him in due to his substantial wage packet.
Even if he remains at the club this week, Ronaldo is unlikely to be considered for a start against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon.
The forward scored 24 goals and registered three assists in 37 appearances for Man United last season, but the club will not be in the Champions League next term due to their sixth-place finish in the Premier League.
"We are planning for Cristiano Ronaldo for the season and that's it," Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag told recently reporters. "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."
Ronaldo is 15 goals ahead of Lionel Messi at the top of the scoring charts when it comes to the European Cup, netting 140 times in the competition, and it is understood that his desire to stay clear at the summit is driving his desire to join a Champions League club before the end of the transfer window.
The former Sporting Lisbon youngster still has another 12 months left to run on his contract, with the option of another year, and Ten Hag also said during the club's pre-season tour that the attacker could stay until the summer of 2024.
"I am well-informed he also has an option (to extend his contract), eh? Yes (he could stay beyond this season), but to be honest, of course I have signed here for three years, but in football it's short-term as well. We have to win from the start. So I don't look that far ahead," Ten Hag told reporters.
Anthony Martial, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford are widely expected to start as the front three in Man United's league opener with Brighton on Sunday. body check tags ::
