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Man United round-up: daily Old Trafford digest... Cristiano Ronaldo, Elon Musk, Casemiro, Glazer family...

With two weeks remaining in the transfer window, players are being linked with potential moves to Manchester United on a daily basis as Ten Hag prepares the side for the Liverpool game.

Update:
Ralf Rangnick, durante un partido como entrenador del Manchester United.
PHIL NOBLEREUTERS

There is no let-up in the fallout following Manchester United’s poor start to the season. Cristiano Ronaldo has promised to ‘reveal all’ in a fortnight as many fans look to the directors box and the lack of shrewd investment from the Glazer family. At the same time new coach Erik ten Hag has the task of preparing the side for next Monday’s Premier League fixture at home to Liverpool.

Cristiano: ‘Media telling lies’

Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to indicate he has a revealing interview planned in the coming weeks that will confirm the “truth” about speculation around his future.

Ronaldo, for the first time in his career has seemingly found a lack of interest for his services as he reportedly tries to push his way out of Old Trafford.

Some of the biggest clubs in the world – including Juventus, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid – have all supposedly turned down the opportunity to sign one of the greatest players the game has ever seen, but the Portuguese star believes most media reports focused on his future have been inaccurate.

In response to a post by a Ronaldo fan page on Instagram, which was criticising the aforementioned speculation, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner added fuel to the fire as he teased a tell-all interview.

His comment read: “They know the truth when [sic] interview in a few weeks. Media only speaks lies. I have a notebook and in the last few months of the 100 news that made only five [accurate] hits, imagine how things are.”

 Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United
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Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United Peter PowellEFE

Former director Knighton in talks with ‘three billionaires’ ahead of potential takeover bid

Former Manchester United director Michael Knighton says he is in talks with several billionaires ahead of launching a potential takeover bid at Old Trafford.

The 70-year-old revealed he has put together a consortium interested in buying the club, although he would operate in a consultancy role should a successful deal by struck.

The club’s current owners – the Glazer family – have come under increased scrutiny following the Red Devils’ poor start to the Premier League season.

Supporters have staged several protests against the Americans, who Knighton believes have turned Old Trafford from a “theatre of a dreams to a theatre of nightmares”

And the former director, who had a bid to buy the club accepted in 1989 – although it never came to fruition – explained that he has had conversation with three potential partners to put forward a deal.

“They are small-time billionaires that I have been speaking to for three to four months now,” Knighton told ITV News.

“When I was approached by some fan groups, oddly enough, saying ‘look, our club is dying on its feet, would you please do something?’ “I made a few phone calls, and I’ve been pulling this consortium together ever since. “The point is: someone had to make a stand.”

Knighton also revealed he has approached British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who recently tried to purchase fellow Premier League side Chelsea, to buy the club.

He said: “If we can smoke the great Sir Jim out to buy Manchester United, my consortium will be punching the air because we’ve achieved what we want to do.

“We will make the bid with our own consortium but, I’ll tell you this, we do not have the resources available to do everything that is needed.”

Musk Twitter United prank

United fans might have got their hopes up over a new billionaire owner, but it would seem the chances of Elon Musk investing in the club are slim.

South African-born American businessman Musk, who among his many ventures is the founder of SpaceX and chief executive of Tesla, caused a stir on Tuesday by claiming he was going to buy United.

Just three days after United suffered a humbling 4-0 defeat at Brentford, Musk wrote on Twitter: “I’m buying Manchester United ur [you’re] welcome.”

In the wake of Musk’s first tweet, United’s share price spiked by close to 17 per cent before settling slightly after the US pre-market trade.

Yet when asked if he seriously intended to purchase United, Musk responded: “No, this is a long-running joke on Twitter. I’m not buying any sports teams.”

However, Musk did not fully close the door. “Although, if it were any team, it would be Man U,” the 51-year-old went on to write. “They were my fav team as a kid.

Elon Musk's twitter account and Manchester United logo
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Elon Musk's twitter account and Manchester United logo DADO RUVICREUTERS

Morata linked with Old Trafford move

Alvaro Morata’s agent has not ruled out a move for the in-form Atletico Madrid star but declared “at the moment I say that he stays”.

The Spain international scored twice as Atleti started the LaLiga season with a 3-0 win at Getafe on the back of a hat-trick in a 4-0 friendly rout of his former club Juventus.

Alvaro Morata of Atletico de Madrid
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Alvaro Morata of Atletico de MadridPressinphotoGetty

Morata has been linked with Manchester United and a return to Juve, where he was on loan for the past two campaigns.

The 29-year-old’s representative, Juanma Lopez, says the ex-Real Madrid forward will remain with Diego Simeone’s side as it stands, but suggested he could depart before the transfer window closes on September 1.

He told Spanish television: “At the moment I say that he stays at Atletico Madrid, we are in August. Will he stay? Yes, he has a contract with Atletico.”