Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Manchester United training ground with agent Jorge Mendes for future talks and Sir Alex Ferguson also pictured at Carrington

Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United for showdown talks about his future at the club.

The star was pictured arriving at United's training ground on Tuesday morning, accompanied by his agent Jorge Mendes.

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Sir Alex Ferguson was also seen driving into Carrington at the same time for a scheduled meeting with the board, although it's been suggested he, along with club legend Bryan Robson, was there to try and convince Ronaldo to stay.

The reports Ronaldo left Carrington just before 5pm on Tuesday having arrived just before 11am.

The report adds the club are not saying if he trained with the squad but Ronaldo’s arrival and departure times coincided with teammates. Training was pushed back by two hours following squad’s return from Perth.

The Portuguese superstar has spent the summer on an extended break back in his homeland, missing the entirety of United's pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia.

It is widely claimed Ronaldo wants to leave the club after just one season back at Old Trafford, as he seeks to spend the last remaining years of his historic career playing at the highest level in the Champions League.

That's something the Red Devils cannot offer him this season, after finishing sixth in the Premier League table to qualify for the Europa League, despite his 18 goals and three assists in 30 league games.

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The likes of Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and even Barcelona are said to have turned down approaches from agent Mendes to sign Ronaldo this summer, but Atletico Madrid are reportedly keen.

Their fans aren't, though, with Atleti supporters launching an online campaign in protest of the transfer, due to Ronaldo's links to arch rivals, Real.

Man United have a battle on their hands to convince CR7 to stay, but it appears Erik ten Hag enlisted the help of Ferguson as club chiefs hold talks with the star.

Ronaldo has often talked about his strong relationship with Fergie and how he sees the Scot as a father figure in his life, having been pivotal in United's first move to sign him from Sporting Lisbon back in 2003.

Sir Alex was also key in getting Ronaldo to snub interest from Man City to return to Old Trafford last summer.

United have remained firm on their stance that Ronaldo is not for sale and new boss Ten Hag has more than once declared his excitement to work with one of the game's greats.

Asked about Ronaldo's pre-season absence, the Dutchman said earlier this month: “He’s not with us and that’s due to personal issues.

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“We are planning for Cristiano Ronaldo this season and so, that’s it. I’m looking forward to working with him.

“I spoke with him before this issue came up. I had a conversation with him and had a real good talk.

“[What was said] is between Cristiano and me. All I can say is we had a really good conversation together.”

Asked how he can make Ronaldo want to stay, Ten Hag added: “I don’t know. He hasn’t told me this.

“But when I say Cristiano is not for sale, Cristiano is in our plans and we want to have success together.”

Whether their 'good conversation' will bear any fruit in their further talks on Tuesday remains to be seen.

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But it appears they face a tough challenge to change the superstar's mind, with close friend Piers Morgan claiming he has 'mentally moved on' from the Red Devils.

The TalkTV host, who has kept in touch with CR7 this summer, told talkSPORT: “I have had quite a lot of contact in the last week. I certainly think it’d be highly unlikely if Cristiano Ronaldo plays another game for Manchester United.

"I just think mentally he’s moved on.

“I’m not going to say what we’ve said to each other but like I said from the start I don’t think Cristiano feels Manchester United share his ambitions.

“I think he feels that the signings they’re making, the commitment they showed last season, where they finished up and a lack of Champions League football…

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“If you’re him and coming towards the end of your career and you still want to win major trophies you’ve got to make a calculation. Am I going to do it if I stay at United?

“I think he feels the club structure from the top down isn’t right. It’s not a reflection on the new manager [Erik ten Hag], he’s got a lot of respect for him, but it’s just an accurate reflection of where United are right now.

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“It’s for him to say what he feels but if you’re asking me then I don’t think he’s going to stay at Manchester United.

“I think he could end up somewhere quite surprising.”