The Portuguese forward was seen leaving United’s pitch at half-time of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with the La Liga side, the club’s final pre-season friendly before the start of the new Premier League season.
Ronaldo was pictured leaving Old Trafford with United team-mate Diogo Dalot, but unlike his compatriot, the defender had not been included in the club’s squad to play Vallecano.
Image: Cristiano Ronaldo stuck at half-time against Vallecano
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Cristiano Ronaldo played 45 minutes and reportedly left the pitch before the end of the match as Manchester United drew with Rayo Vallecano.
However, the 37-year-old – whose United future is in doubt with reports that he wants to leave to play for a club competing in next season’s Champions League – had appeared in the first half against the Spaniards before being substituted at the interval.
I certainly do not condone this. This is unacceptable. For all. We are a team and you have to stay until the end, Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag
Ten Hag, however, was unimpressed by Ronaldo’s actions, telling Dutch media AD and Viaplay that while “he wasn’t the only one who left after half-time, I tell them (the players) that it’s unacceptable. That we are a team, and that you must stay right to the end.’
Ronaldo was absent for United’s recent tour of Thailand and Australia while dealing with a family issue and only returned to training last week when he and his agent, Jorge Mendes, held further discussions about his future.
Image: Cristiano Ronaldo returned to United training last week
United, however, insist they will not approve the sale of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who is firmly in Ten Haag’s plans, although the new United boss has admitted the player is still far behind his squad . partners in terms of fitness.
“He’s not at the level of the rest of the team because he missed a lot of weeks,” Ten Haag told Viaplay ahead of Sunday’s clash with Rayo. “But he needs games and he needs practice, a lot.”
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Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo was spotted leaving Old Trafford before the end of their pre-season friendly against Rayo Vallecano, although the club say they have no problem with it.
United kick off their Premier League campaign at home to Brighton on Super Sunday, with the match live on Sky Sports Premier League.
Sunday 7 August 14:00 Start 14:00
How can Ten Hag keep Ronaldo happy at Manchester United?
Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Former Manchester United assistant manager Chris Armas says the club must keep hold of “leader” Cristiano Ronaldo and says reports of dressing room unrest under Ralf Rangnick were untrue. Former Man Utd manager Chris Armas has explained how Ten Hag can keep Ronaldo at the club. Armas served as Ralf Rangnick’s assistant during the German’s six-month spell as caretaker manager, during which there were several reported leaks from the Old Trafford dressing room and rumors of his relationship with striker Ronaldo. This intense speculation about the Portuguese has remained since Ten Haag was appointed. Ronaldo has missed most of United’s pre-season due to family reasons and told the club last week that he still wants to leave Old Trafford before the transfer window closes on September 1. Armas explained how he tried to get the best out of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who scored 12 Premier League goals in 19 games during Rangnick’s tenure, and how Ten Haag could try to beat the striker of. “It’s a hands-on approach, talking to him, bringing him into the office, asking him questions, so it’s part of the solutions and part of the success,” he said. “It was my job to figure out how to take all that fire and experience and talent and challenge him as much as I could. I think the most important thing is to deal with Cristiano. “He has so much to give, his commitment to winning and scoring, each guy has a different type of leadership. He can be a leader in his own way and my aim like everyone in the team was to say how I can get the most out of Cristiano. “When you talk about, at the highest level, watching a professional and what it means to win for Ronaldo, what it means to score goals for him – he’s in the team, a big part of the team and he’s a guy who produced.”
Has Ronaldo run out of options?
Sky Sports News senior reporter Melissa Reddy: “As we have seen on Instagram, Ronaldo is staying fit so there are no concerns from Manchester United about his fitness or physical level; he is one of the best players in world football. “Ultimately, Ronaldo has stated his desire to leave Old Trafford, but he is running out of options and it looks like he will have to stay. Maybe he’ll try to change that where he will take a 25 percent pay cut in his contract. resign from United. ”Maybe he wants to maneuver and create a new deal, we’ll have to wait and see. But it doesn’t look like Stamford Bridge is on the cards. “Chelsea have distanced themselves from a deal for Ronaldo, as have Bayern Munich, Napoli and many other elite clubs that Jorge Mendes, who is Ronaldo’s agent, has tried to sell him to. “An offer from Saudi Arabia is astronomical, but ultimately, it doesn’t give Cristiano Ronaldo what he wants, which is that legacy. He wants to achieve a Champions League record that he believes no one else will be able to achieve in the future. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player The Transfer Show panel discuss potential destinations for Cristiano Ronaldo, with the Manchester United striker’s future yet to be resolved. “He wants to sign at the absolute highest level. Now, it looks more and more that he will have to stay at Manchester United because there are no bitters from the big clubs. “They all have their strikers already, and Chelsea, who are the only team who look like they could potentially be swayed by what Cristiano Ronaldo offers off the pitch. “We were told that Mendes, while in front of these clubs, was putting up his numbers in terms of social media influence, sponsorship he earns, commercial profit from his shirt sales and the like. ”But even now they say it’s not in their plans. Their immediate goal is to strengthen the defense. “Well, that doesn’t leave Ronaldo with many options. We know he wants to be competitive at the highest level, so if he goes to Saudi Arabia, it cuts against everything he’s said and everything we really know about him and his career. . Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Nick Wright breaks down why this could be Jadon Sancho’s reboot year at Manchester United after a disappointing first season. “Manchester United have always been very calm and very comfortable. They insist that he is not for sale and he will see out the last year of his contract. How they will maneuver now in the future, we will see, but Ronaldo keeps his form. , so they have not problems or problems or fears as to what condition he will return to training.”
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