Cristiano Ronaldo has been told to consider retirement by Frank Leboeuf, as the former defender has no interest in watching the icon’s ‘exceptional’ talents fade.

The No 7’s return to Manchester United was the perfect fairytale for a while. Stolen from under Man City’s nose, Ronaldo bagged a brace on his second debut and sent the Premiership wild. It was downhill from there.

Since Ronaldo’s return has been a story of tantrums, walk-offs, moaning – and not enough goals for his liking. In 22 games he’s scored nine. The last time CR7 fell below the 20-goal mark for a league campaign was 2009, but he has just 12 games left.

The Galactico turned 37-years-old this month and his stated aim is to continue playing top-level football into his 40s. Leboeuf has seen enough.

‘Do you know what? I think there is a time where you have to think, “what do I do with my life and my career,”‘ the Frenchman told ESPN.

‘And maybe it’s time for Cristiano Ronaldo at the end of his career to wonder and have a discussion with himself, and maybe some of his family, to know what he has to do for the rest of his career, if there is a future in his career.

‘I don’t want to watch Ronaldo and have pity, because he’s been on the top for so many years.

‘I don’t want him to be a normal player. He’s been an exceptional player for so long,’ Leboeuf continued.

‘I’d prefer him to give up his career at the top instead of maybe trying and play for two or three more years and not being the player that he used to be.’

Ronaldo returned to United aiming at a sixth Ballon d’Or, hoping to catch his great rival Lionel Messi’s haul of seven before he quits.

Instead, he quickly found a squad incapable of supporting his still-lofty ambitions – with the club a shadow of the one commandeered by Sir Alex Ferguson, the one he left.

Ronaldo managed just one touch inside Atletico Madrid’s box in the Champions League on Wednesday, seeing his frustration rise.