Erik ten Hag has reiterated that Cristiano Ronaldo "is not for sale" and has suggested the forward may stay at Manchester United beyond the end of the coming season.
The Portugal international has been strongly linked with a move away from Old Trafford this transfer window, less than 12 months after returning to the club from Juventus.
Ronaldo scored 18 Premier League goals last season – only Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min (both 23) scored more – but United still finished down in sixth.
He is said to be eager to join a team competing in the Champions League and has yet to return to pre-season training, which United have put down to compassionate leave.
Despite the ongoing speculation surrounding Ronaldo's future, Ten Hag has again made clear he is staying put for at least another year.
"It is clear – he is not for sale," Ten Hag told reporters on United's pre-season tour of Australia. "I planned with having him and I am looking forward to working with him.
"I am well-informed he also has an option [for a further season]."
Asked if that could mean Ronaldo remaining at United for the 2023-24 campaign, Ten Hag said: "Yes. 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."
As well as missing the first week of training at Carrington, Ronaldo has played no part in United's tour games in Thailand and Australia.
Ten Hag is not sure when Ronaldo will resume training, but he has not ruled out selecting him for United's Premier League opener against Brighton and Hove Albion on August 7.
"He is training," the Dutchman said. "I think we all know Ronaldo is a top professional and he will be fit [for the start of the season], so that is the last concern I have."
Ronaldo scored 24 goals in all competitions for United in his first season back at the club, which is 14 more than next-best Bruno Fernandes. No other United player reached double figures.
Concerns have been raised over Ronaldo's ability to adapt to Ten Hag's pressing style, however, which was evident under interim boss Ralf Rangnick last season.
"I think Cristiano is capable of doing that," Ten Hag said. "In his career he has shown everything.
"I have set my demand. We want to play in a certain way. A top player can contribute and Ronaldo is an absolute top player in our squad.
"The players dictate the way you play. Especially players who score goals because they are extremely important for a team. You construct your team around them."
Al-Khaleej 0-1 Al-Nassr: Ronaldo misfires on return as Laporte nets winner
Cristiano Ronaldo returned from suspension but failed to find the net as Al-Nassr secured a 1-0 win over Al-Khaleej on Saturday, with Aymeric Laporte coming up with the decisive goal.
Ronaldo was in action for the first time since being sent off for an elbow in a 2-1 Saudi Super Cup loss to Al-Hilal earlier this month, with his initial two-match ban being reduced to one on appeal.
He missed three good chances as Al-Nassr threatened to fall further behind runaway Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal, but former Manchester City defender Laporte spared his blushes by nodding Marcelo Brozovic's deep free-kick into the bottom-left corner with 68 minutes gone.
Al-Nassr remain nine points adrift of Al-Hilal at the summit in spite of their win, with Jorge Jesus' team unbeaten through 28 games this season as they close in on a record-extending 18th title.
Data Debrief: Ronaldo misfires on return
Ronaldo was presented with the Saudi Pro League's Player of the Month award for March ahead of kick-off, having scored four goals in three league appearances last month.
However, his sights were off on Saturday as he failed to net despite three of the visitors' four big chances, as defined by Opta, falling his way. He led all players on the pitch for expected goals (1.27 xG), shots (five), shots on target (three) and touches in the area (nine) without reward.
Huddersfield all but relegated from Championship while League Two play-off spots decided
Huddersfield Town saw their relegation from the Championship all but confirmed after a 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Birmingham City on Saturday.
The Terriers avoided a defeat that would have seen them relegated on Saturday, but even a win on the final day over promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town will not be enough unless they overcome a huge goal difference of 15 goals with Plymouth Argyle.
Birmingham remain in the other relegation place and now must beat Norwich City to stand a chance of staying up with Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth and Blackburn Rovers also still in danger.
At the other end of the table, the Canaries dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Swansea City, leaving the door open for Hull City, who face Ipswich Town later today.
Ten Hag bemoans late Burnley equaliser - 'It's so unnecessary'
Erik ten Hag was left frustrated as Manchester United "gave it away" against a spirited Burnley, who held them to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils were on course to claim all three points when Antony pounced on Sander Berge's error to open the scoring in the 79th minute, as they looked to close the gap on fifth-place Tottenham to four points.
However, the hosts could not hold on as Andre Onana was penalised for a foul on Zeki Amdouni, who picked himself up to level from the penalty spot and salvage a point for the visitors three minutes from time.
Ten Hag was made to rue his side's wastefulness as they converted just one of their 27 shots on goal throughout the contest.
"We put ourselves in a winning position and, over long courses of the game, we dominated," he told the BBC. "We played some good football - creating loads of chances - and then to give it away in the end in the final minutes, it's so unnecessary.
"Every team gives up opportunities. But, when it is up to us, it is weird. We created loads of chances as well. We are one of the most dynamic and entertaining teams in the league at this moment. We are creating loads of chances by playing good football.
"We lost control in the second part of the first half when we conceded some chances, but the rest of the game was ours. We were in a winning position, and we gave it away."
Meanwhile, Vincent Kompany saluted the character demonstrated by Burnley, who boosted their Premier League survival hopes by moving to within two points of safety with three games remaining.
"We are where we are in the league for a reason, so not everything can be perfect, but the mentality was perfect - the togetherness, the sacrifice for each other," the Clarets boss said.
"There is tremendous consistency in the club and the approach to each game, even in tough times. We've earned the right to believe and hope."
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