If Erik ten Hag allows Cristiano Ronaldo to leave Manchester United for good in January, the Portuguese forward could soon say his goodbyes to the club.

There is less than a year left on the two-year contract that he signed upon his return to the club from Serie A giants Juventus. It has been claimed that the manager of the Red Devils will not stand in the way of the veteran player if he decides to leave Old Trafford for a second time in less than six months. This would be the second time in less than six months that he has decided to leave Old Trafford.

During the summer transfer window, Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes made several attempts to break Ronaldo's contract with the club and find him a new team. Of course, a move did not occur, but they could have more success in 2023 - especially considering Ten Hag's apparent reluctance to use Ronaldo so far during his tenure as manager of the club. If Ronaldo decides to leave Manchester United in the near future, Mirror Football takes a look at the five clubs that are the most likely candidates to sign him.

Lisbon's Sporting Club

Given that the forward began his professional career with the Portuguese giants, a move back to his native country would undoubtedly be an emotional one for him. The striker's mother is believed to be a big fan of the idea of her son going back to his boyhood club to potentially one day play with his own son, so rumors of a switch back to his boyhood club have been frequently brought up in the past.

"I have already told him, 'Son, before I die, I want to see you playing for Sporting again.'" This year it did not take place, but perhaps it will the following year. However, in the event that it is not him, Cristianinho will be the one. He is already a better player than his father was at his age. When Cristiano was 12 years old, he did not have a coach, but now he is the one who instructs his own son.

Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid's all-time record for most goals scored is still held by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Another bittersweet get-together, and Ronaldo has already cemented his place in Santiago Bernabeu club lore with his exploits there. During his first stint with the Spanish powerhouses, he racked up 450 goals for the club, making him the all-time leading scorer in the club's history. Ronaldo would be reunited with former strike partner Karim Benzema as well as former manager Carlo Ancelotti should Real Madrid decide to make a move for him. However, there have been few reports of Real Madrid making a move for Ronaldo as of yet.

Chelsea

In contrast to United's Premier League rivals Chelsea, Real Madrid has not yet been linked with a possible transfer for Cristiano Ronaldo. However, the same cannot be said of Chelsea. Throughout the summer, rumors circulated that the Blues were interested in making a transfer for the Portuguese player.

It was rumored that the new owner of Chelsea, Todd Boehly, was a big supporter of bringing the 37-year-old player to Stamford Bridge, but the previous manager, Thomas Tuchel, was not persuaded.

It remains to be seen if the Londoners renew their interest in Ronaldo, especially with reports suggesting that they are closing in on a swoop for RB Leipzig sensation Christopher Nkunku. Now that the German has moved on in favor of Graham Potter, it remains to be seen if the Londoners renew their interest in Ronaldo.

Saudi Arabia

In the event that Ronaldo makes the decision to completely walk away from European football, there is a chance that he will investigate playing in the Saudi Arabian league.

The seasoned forward had already been presented with a lucrative contract offer from Riyadh-based Al-Hilal, believed to be worth a total of £210 million, but he chose to pursue other options rather than accept the offer. However, as Ronaldo's options may be running out, the possibility exists that he will be tempted to discuss his future with other Saudi organizations.

Qatar

It is possible that clubs in Qatar will be tempted to make a similar move in order to attract even more attention to their nation after the conclusion of the upcoming World Cup. This is particularly true given that clubs in Saudi Arabia have previously been rumored to be interested in making a move for Ronaldo.

The participants in the Qatari league would undoubtedly have the financial means to make a move for Ronaldo, and as such, it would be their duty to persuade the forward to make the switch to their league.