Cristiano Ronaldo met with Sir Alex Ferguson to discuss Manchester United future - Paper Talk

 Cristiano Ronaldo has held regular private meetings with Sir Alex Ferguson to talk over his future at Manchester United.

Barcelona are leading the race to sign Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso, who could be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge as he enters the final year of his contract.

Two thunderous goals from Aurelien Tchouameni for Monaco on Friday evening could have done his hopes of a big-money transfer some good, with reports that scouts from Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid were all in attendance.

Manchester United and Liverpool have joined forces to charter a jumbo jet to fly their squads out to Thailand for a pre-season friendly match on July 12, which is expected to be Erik ten Hag's first game in charge of the Old Trafford club.

The Portuguese superstar played at Old Trafford for six seasons under the legendary manager after being signed as an 18-year-old.

Following 12 years away at Real Madridand Juventus, he returned to the club last summer - with Ferguson influential in the move happening as he persuaded Ronaldo not to join rivals Manchester City. 

According to the Mirror, Ronaldo and Ferguson have had regular chats at their two homes as they live near each other in Cheshire. 

The report adds that the pair have discussed how United's season has fallen apart, but Ferguson wants Ronaldo to stay at least another year to 'protect his legacy'.

The forward has scored 24 times in 38 appearances since his £12.85million move from Juventus last August, more than double the goal haul of any other player in the squad. 

But his performances have not been enough to save an embarrassing campaign at Old Trafford. The Red Devils have failed to qualify for the Champions League and will finish with their lowest ever Premier League points tally. 

Erik ten Hag will take over as manager this summer and attempt to revolutionise the club, but it is not yet clear whether Ronaldo is in his plans. 

The 37-year-old's contract runs until 2023, with United having the option to extend it by a further year.  

United lost 4-0 away at Brighton on Saturday in the latest sorry chapter of their miserable season. 

After the Seagulls' third goal went in just before the hour mark, television cameras panned to Ronaldo who appeared to be laughing at what was happening

I'm thinking to myself… is he laughing at his players, is he laughing at the situation?' Dion Dublin said on Sky Sports after the game. 'It was very much "what's going on here, am I at Man United or not?". That just summed up today.'

'You can see what he's thinking,' Graeme Souness added. 'He's thinking "when I was here last time I had Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, Rio Ferdinand and now I've got this lot".'

Source: @skysports and @dailymail