Both parties said on Tuesday they had "mutually agreed" for Ronaldo to leave the club with immediate effect. Last summer the Portugal forward, 37, told United he wanted to leave and he criticised the club in a controversial interview last week.

United announced in April that Erik ten Hag would become Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's permanent successor in the summer. He arrived at Old Trafford with the reputation of being a disciplinarian and it was unclear how Ronaldo would fit into his tactics once the club had decided not to sell the player.