ISLAMABAD
\nCristiano Ronaldo has been pushing for a transfer since the end of last season when United failed to qualify for the Champions League.
\nManchester United coach Erik ten Hag repeated on Wednesday that he was counting on Cristiano Ronaldo this season. \u201cIt\u2019s clear, of course, we need quality players,\u201d Ten Haag said when asked about his unsettled Portuguese star on the day before the summer transfer window closes. \u201cYou need more and to cover all the games to keep the consistency going, that\u2019s what we strive for,\u201d he told a press conference. \u201cFrom now on, we go in three games a week.
\n\u201cWe will go from September to minimum January with this squad.\u201d
\nRonaldo has been pushing for a transfer since the end of last season when United failed to qualify for the Champions League. The 37-year-old Portugal striker is the all-time top scorer in the competition, 15 ahead of Lionel Messi, but the Argentine is more than two years younger and will be playing in the Champions League this season with Paris Saint-Germain.
\nRonaldo has found it impossible to attract offers from Europe\u2019s top clubs, with the latest reports linking him with the likes of his former team Sporting Lisbon, as well as Napoli and Marseille. Ronaldo has only started one of United\u2019s four league games this season, the humiliating 4-0 loss at Brentford.
\nAlthough United said on their website on Tuesday that they had reached a deal to buy Brazilian attacker Antony from Ajax, Ten Haag was coy about the player. \u201cFirstly, I have to sign him! There\u2019s an agreement between the clubs but the paperwork is not done so I cannot go too deep into that,\u201d he said.
\nUnited are reportedly paying Ajax a fixed fee of \u00a380.6 million (93.9m euros), with a further \u00a34.2m in add-ons for the 22-year-old, who has yet to complete a medical. Ten Haag also confirmed that he expected Martin Dubravka to join from Newcastle.
\nThe goalkeeper has reportedly passed his medical.
\nTen Haag said that fullback Aaron Wan-Bissaka would not be leaving. Even though Antony is signing and Ronaldo staying, Ten Haag still wanted more attackers.
\n\u201cIn the offensive department we needed to strengthen the squad. Offensive players fatigue quicker. They have to run more with high intensity.\u201d he said. \u201cWe need numbers there. We need not just quantity but quality.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD Cristiano Ronaldo has been pushing for a transfer since the end of last season when United failed to qualify for the Champions League. Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag repeated on Wednesday that he was counting on Cristiano Ronaldo this season. \u201cIt\u2019s clear, of course, we need quality players,\u201d Ten Haag said when asked […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":281011,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[10431,1063],"class_list":{"0":"post-280992","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-coach-erik-ten-hag","9":"tag-cristiano-ronaldo"},"yoast_head":"\n