Cristiano Ronaldo reiterated to Manchester United executives this week his preference to join another club this summer, according to The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell.

Per that report, Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, is "working to establish exit routes from Old Trafford, and The Athletic understands talks have been held with Sporting Lisbon," Ronaldo's former club that finished second in Portugal's Primeira Liga last season and will have Champions League football this year.

A transfer to his first professional club may not be realistic, however. As Whitwell noted, "finding the finance for such a move—including covering his high wages—would be complex and it is said head coach Ruben Amorim has reservations about bringing Ronaldo into his team given the huge change in dynamic the 37-year-old would inevitably cause."

Additionally, Manchester United executives remain uninterested in selling Ronaldo this summer, per that report.