Manager Erik ten Hag said Manchester United are looking to bring in a new forward to plug the gap left by Cristiano Ronaldo after his departure from the Premier League club in the wake of an explosive interview with TalkTV.

Ronaldo said, in the interview with Piers Morgan last month, he felt betrayed by the club and did not respect Ten Hag.

United then announced that the Portugal international, who rejoined the club in August 2021 after winning eight major trophies with them from 2003 to 2009, would leave immediately.

“He wanted to leave, it was quite clear. And when a player definitely doesn’t want to be in this club then he has to go,” Ten Hag said. “The interview was the first time he said he wanted to leave. I think as a club you can’t accept that. There will be consequences. To make that step, he knew the consequences. Before he (had) never told me.”

Asked if United were in the market for a new striker, Ten Hag told reporters, “Yes, but only when we find the right player.

“We do everything that is in our power, so I do research on every opportunity that comes.

“We do everything we can if that opportunity will be there.

“I cannot give comment on specific players, I will never do. I’ve told you before, in the summer as well, when you talked about a lot of players.

“Each player is under contract and I respect that, but we make sure we are working in the background to get the right players in.”