European giants rejected chance to sign Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo on 'modest' wages - Reports

Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Manchester United remains up in the air, with the Portuguese yet to find a suitable offer to leave OId Trafford this summer. In another blow, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been snubbed by Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, despite being ready to join on seemingly low wages.

According to COPE (via Utd District), Cristiano Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes had a meeting with Atletico Madrid's CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin earlier this month where he offered the attacker to Los Rojiblancos.

The player's representative is said to have informed the club's chief that his client wants to play in the UEFA Champions League next season.

The report also mentions that the Manchester United superstar is ready to join them after taking a substantial pay cut as his desire to leave is based on sporting reasons.

Ronaldo would not want to miss out on his favorite competition, where he is the all-time top scorer (140 goals) and top appearance maker (183). Eternal rival Lionel Messi is just 15 goals behind in second position.

However, Gil Marin declined the opportunity to sign the 37-year-old. The reason for that decision, according to the story, is that Atletico Madrid are currently exceeding their financial fair play limit by around €45 million.

The Atletico Madrid CEO simply thanked Mendes for the offer, declining the proposal and clarifying that it's not an operation the club can carry out at the moment.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid aren't the only team Mendes has offered Ronaldo to. The story adds that the superstar offered himself to Barcelona after former club Real Madrid turned him down.

However, it seemingly went the same way with nothing tangible coming out of the said contact.

What does the future hold for Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United?

The Portuguese has told United that he wants to leave

As it stands, there's a small chance that Cristiano Ronaldo will be at Old Trafford next season. The Portuguese will definitely part ways with the Premier League giants when an offer arrives from a top Champions League club in the coming days.

However, new manager Ten Hag recently hinted in an interview that the club could offer Ronaldo a contract extension. He said:

“I am well informed, he also has an option [of another year]. Yes [he could stay beyond next season]. 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."