Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim has revealed that the Portuguese club are ‘dreaming’ about signing Ronaldo from Manchester United.

Ronaldo trained with Man United’s first team for the first time on Tuesday since his refusal to come on as a late substitute in last week’s Premier League 2-0 victory over Tottenham.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who was desperate to leave Old Trafford in the summer, was banished by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag for his act of defiance and was left out to the squad that drew 1-1 with Chelsea last weekend.

The 37-year-old has been linked with a Man United exit when the transfer window reopens in January, with Chelsea heavily linked.

But a return to Sporting Lisbon, where Ronaldo started his career, has also been mooted.

However, Amorim has now admitted that Sporting Lisbon don’t have the money to pay Ronaldo’s wages as the Portugal captain would have to take a significant pay cut to join his former club.

“Ronaldo is a top player,” Amorim said at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sporting Lisbon’s Champions League clash with Tottenham on Wednesday.

“He is a Manchester United player. Everybody in Sporting dreams of the return for Cristiano, but we don’t have the money to pay his wages.

“I think he is happy in Manchester but is not playing, so that is the problem.

“But I have my problems, so it is Ten Hag’s problem! I am very happy with my players, no problem at all at the moment.”

Ronaldo spent five years at Sporting Lisbon between 1997 and 2002.