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04.08.2022 » Ronaldo left Old Trafford before the end of a Man United friendly
Cristiano Ronaldo left the Red Devil's game against Rayo Vallecano last Sunday at Old Trafford before the end, but it wasn't clear whether Erik ten Hag had allowed the 37-year-old star to do that. The striker, who might be leaving Manchester United soon, has played his first half under the new coach after missing the last five preseason matches due to a family issue. The Red Devils kicked off their pre-season works on July 4, but the Portuguese superstar only made his first appearance at the club's training facilities last week. So far, Manchester United only managed to win 3 of their 6 pre-season friendlies, as they're expected to debut in the Premier League against Brighton Hove Albion, this next Sunday (August 7).
Cristiano Ronaldo - 2022 Highlights:
Actions lead to reactions...
During the break, manager Ten Hag replaced Cristiano with Amad Diallo and was later photographed outside Old Trafford before the end of the game. That sparked social media rumors that Cristiano might be in trouble for his actions.
The coach had earlier asked all his men to have lunch together before attending the warm-up, whether playing in the game or not. Manchester United had also played together on Saturday in Oslo during their 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid before landing in Manchester on Sunday morning.
A group of players, including Marcus Rashford, Diogo Dalot, Anthony Elanga, Tyrell Malacia and Brandon Williams, were in the director's box during the game, while non-playing members were somewhere around Old Trafford.
While Dalot was captured in the picture with Ronaldo, according to Vwin, United's fans were more concerned with Cristiano's whereabouts after being replaced in the game. Many expected Cristiano to face disciplinary action from the coach, but the manager hadn't scheduled a post-match conference, which made it hard for the media to ask. However, Ronaldo might have another issue with the 52-year-old following his Friday Instagram comment, "On Sunday the King plays."
Cristiano's Instagram comment might have revealed sensitive selection information or showed that he was presumptive on his part, which might prompt Ten Hag to look at its effect on team spirit and discipline. The Dutchman offered an analysis of the actual performance at MUTV, looking at a preseason that ended with a loss, two draws and three wins.
In the interview, the Dutchman said he's generally happy his team has made a good preseason, and they're ready for their 2022/2023 campaign. However, the 52-year-old acknowledged there's still room for improvement, and his men have to do all it takes to move forward.
What did Ten Hag say about Ronaldo?
Coach Ten Hag originally confirmed that Cristiano would be part of the squad for their friendly with Rayo after Manchester United lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid on Saturday. The 52-year-old has admitted that the star forward still has a long way to go compared to his fellow stars in terms of fitness, considering he's just coming from an extended break.
Despite rumors of disciplinary action, the Red Devils have insisted they don't have an issue with Ronaldo leaving early on Sunday. The team earlier refused to comment on the issue but later admitted that Cristiano wasn't the only player who left early on Sunday.
Why did Cristiano leave Old Trafford early?
Cristiano played for the first 45 minutes before being substituted for Amad Diallo at halftime. The striker left moments later before the final whistle at Old Trafford, but it wasn't clear whether Ten Hag sanctioned the departure.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Manchester United is on August 7, against Brighton. You can watch Manchester United vs Brighton Hove Albion, Real Madrid vs Eintracht, Juventus vs Atletico Madrid, Fulham vs Liverpool, Crystal Palace vs Arsenal, and Eintracht Frankfurt vs Bayern Munchen, all matches provided from our live streams game pages.
Manchester United next game:
Manchester United vs Brighton Hove Albion kick-off time (07-08-2022):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+8: 21:00
Jakarta (Indonesia) | UTC/GMT+7: 20:00
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+5.30: 18:30
Italy (Turin) | UTC/GMT+2: 15:00
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+2: 15:00
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+1: 14:00
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 10:00
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 09:00
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 06:00
Sources: ronaldo7.net / fourfourtwo.com / manutd.com
