Manchester United coach Eric ten Hag has questioned Cristiano Ronaldo’s attitude after the Portugese star left during Sunday’s friendly with Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo was seen the stadium 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. He played 45 minutes and reportedly left.
“I certainly don’t condone this. This is unacceptable. For everyone. We are a team and you have to stay until the end
“He is not on the level of the rest of the squad because he missed a lot of weeks,” Ten Hag told Viaplay before Sunday’s clash with Rayo. “But he needs games and he needs training, a lot.”
“Ronaldo was not 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 need to stay right until the very end.”
Ronaldo was absent for United’s recent pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia while he dealt with a family issue and only returned to training last week, when he and his agent, Jorge Mendes, held further talks about his future.
United are insistent, however, that they will not sanction the sale of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who is firmly in Ten Hag’s plans, although the new United boss has admitted the player is still a long way behind his team-mates in terms of fitness.
Ronaldo...United headache