Cristiano Ronaldo could quit ‘shambles at embarrassing Man Utd’ with top-four hopes in balance, claims Paul Merson

CRISTIANO RONALDO will leave Manchester United if they fail to finish in the top four, claims Paul Merson.

The Sky Sports pundit labelled United a "shambles", suggesting they will be thrashed by Chelsea on Sunday.

And he thinks Ronaldo may leave Old Trafford next summer given the lack of organisation at the club.

Merson wrote in his column for the Daily Star: "Manchester United needing an interim manager is a shambles - and Cristiano Ronaldo might decide to walk away in the summer.

"He won't be hanging around if they don't finish in the top four because he will want to end his career in the Champions League.

"And that doesn't look terribly likely right now because United are a mess and will probably get thrashed by Chelsea this weekend.

"It might actually suit all parties if he leaves anyway because if they appoint Mauricio Pochettino and he wants to press from the front, you're not doing that with Ronaldo.

"But what I really don't get is why the biggest club in the world needs an INTERIM manager."

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Ronaldo is reported to be shocked at how far standards have slipped and a failure to qualify the Champions League could push him to leave.

United have agreed a deal with Ralf Rangnick to become their manager until the end of the season though Lokomotiv Moscow have still not given the move the green light.

But SunSport revealed Rangnick could be in the Old Trafford dugout long-term, which may ease Merson's concerns.

Mauricio Pochettino was heavily linked to the job but Paris Saint-Germain blocked United's approaches.

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