Spanner in the works or heaven-sent opportunity?

There seems no halfway house for Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United.

The timing of his wish to leave the club – he’s even prepared to take a cut in salary to grease the move – could not have been worse.

If he didn’t fancy Europa League football, why didn’t he say so earlier?

By leaving it so late, he’s not only put United’s pre-season plans in turmoil, he’s all but scuppered its chances of finding a replacement.

The trip to Thailand and Australia was carefully planned as the ideal time for new boss Erik Ten Hag to introduce himself and his methods to the squad.

In an increasingly hectic calendar, pre-seasons are priceless for managers – especially new ones.

And by spending part of them overseas while playing the odd friendly, the time is meant to be productive, lucrative and devoid of distractions.

United should be grateful this crisis blew up before they reached the airport – and they shouldn’t allow the perpetrator on board.

“Let the circus begin,” was Paul Scholes take on it.

If it’s not handled right, it could wreck the coming season before it starts.

United are saying he’s not for sale and there are precious few potential buyers anyway.

PSG? Would there be enough room for his ego with Lionel Messi, Neymar, not to mention Kylian Mbappe, already there? Would he even get in the side?

Bayern have already ruled him out, CEO Oliver Kahn saying: “He doesn’t fit our philosophy.”

No Spanish or Italian club can afford him which leaves Chelsea.

He has been offered to new owner Todd Boehly but while he might be tempted, you feel manager Thomas Tuchel won’t be.

He had enough of egos at PSG and is trying to build a young, mobile attack with Raheem Sterling having already replaced Romelu Lukaku.

But if the American insists on adding a global superstar to his sporting portfolio, United may have a chance to prize N’Golo Kante out of Stamford Bridge as part of the deal.

Mr Perpetual Motion replacing a 37-year-old of occasional bursts would surely be a big step forward.

The truth is that this time CR7 has manoeuvred himself into a corner.

With so few options, the worry for United is that the worst-case scenario – having him stick around and sulk – is the most likely.

And no one can sulk like CR7 if he has something to sulk about.

It was obvious as far back as April that United were not going to make it into the Champions League.

Yet he said nothing and seemed prepared to give Erik Ten Hag a chance despite the Dutchman’s reputation for a hard-pressing style and strong belief in the team ethos.

Neither would have been music to the Portuguese’s ears.

But he still had a year left on his contract and playing for United again, according to his gushing statement when he rejoined, was “a dream come true”.

In view of the current situation, it’s worth a look at what he said back then.

“Everyone who knows me, knows about my never-ending love for Manchester United,” is how he began his Instagram post.

“History has been written in the past and history will be written once again! You have my word! I’m right here! I’m back where I belong!”

For him to feel that he doesn’t belong any more, you might think a lot must have happened in the past 10 months.

More likely, he just wasn’t aware of how steep the club’s decline has been since he and then his mentor Alex Ferguson left.

It isn’t the United that he remembered.

He may now regret the late diversion from City when United belatedly realized that one of their favourite sons was about to join the noisy neighbours.

He was swayed by emotion then but if he’d let his head rule his heart, he wouldn’t be in this pickle now.

He might even have added a sixth Champions League medal had he been on the end of some of those chances City’s midfielders create.

At United, he was fed scraps and did well to get 18 Premier League goals.

With a few departures and no creative additions, he might not even get scraps this season. Which might explain his decision.

Fans are divided between those who feel they can’t avoid to lose his goals – least of all now – and those who want a clean break.

The prospect of Pogba 2.0 looms large but this would be on another scale.

Pogba could literally disappear, CR7 cannot. If only Opta recorded hands on hips moments, he’d be the all-time record holder.

What is measured though – by StatsBomb – is pressing and Ronaldo’s 6.7 pressures per 90 were the lowest at United and in the bottom one percent in the EPL.

There are even stats – a rating system from ClubElo – that show in his later years, he doesn’t actually improve teams – even with his goals.

According to The Athletic, there’s been a discernible drop in overall team performance at both Juventus and United.

Don’t forget the season before he came back to Old Trafford, United came second in the league.

But now that he’s told them they’re no longer good enough for him United shouldn’t hesitate to remove his £490,000 a week from the payroll.

You imagine Ten Hag would be the most relieved man in Manchester if he no longer had to solve the unsolvable.

Playing Ronaldo in a pressing game is like trying to fix a leak with the tap running.

The players will probably be doing cartwheels too. Although you always hear them praising CR7’s dedication and fitness, he’s just not a team player.

Everything is about him – as this selfish decision proves. A prima donna still pretending to be what he once was.

United should not spurn this opportunity as another season of limbo just won’t be tolerated.

Just end the nonsense of having the lowest presser in the EPL as the highest earner.

Even without a top striker, the collective benefit would more than compensate.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.