Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has ruled out signing Cristiano Ronaldo back from Real Madrid.
BBC Sport reported in June that Ronaldo was left upset after being accused of tax fraud and wants to leave Spain.
A move back to United, whom he left for a then world record £80m in 2009, has been mentioned as a possibility.
However, when asked about the likelihood of the move, Mourinho said it cannot happen due to the “economic difficulty” of doing the deal.
Mourinho was asked about signing Portugal captain Ronaldo after his side had beaten LA Galaxy 5-2 in the first match of their pre-season tour of the United States on Sunday.
“I am not going to get my club to waste time on players who are mission impossible.
“Ronaldo is such an important player for his club. A player of great economic power. We have not been able to find any reason that could have made us think that Ronaldo could leave.”
Mourinho added that he did not believe another Real Madrid player, striker Alvaro Morata, will end up at Old Trafford either.
“It is a shame,” he said.
“He is a player who made it to the first team with me and I have a special liking for. I enjoyed watching his evolution in Juventus and Madrid.
“But we have not reached an agreement with his club and I don’t think he can end with us.”