Cristiano Ronaldo missed Manchester United’s match with Leicester at the weekend after pulling out with illness.
Ronaldo’s withdrawal came days after helping Portugal to World Cup qualification, taking a huge weight off his shoulders in the process as he now prepares to head to his fifth tournament.
United certainly missed Ronaldo against Leicester, and have not won a league game which he has been absent for this season, since he re-signed.
The 37-year-old did not react on social media to United’s drab 1-1 draw. There is very little which can be said at this point, and Paul Pogba’s pledge to ‘fight’ to the end of the season rang pretty hollow.
Ronaldo did send one message on Sunday, a personal one, as he spent time with his family.
Sporting call
Ronaldo has one more year left on his contract at United, and The Telegraph report he is keen to stay at Old Trafford even if there is no Champions League football.
With the World Cup on the horizon, Ronaldo may prefer the consistency which staying at United would bring, rather than switching clubs weeks before.
There are not many clubs which may appeal to Ronaldo either, although a prospective return to Sporting in Portugal would bring his career full circle.
This possibility was raised by his former Real Madrid teammate Adan. The goalkeeper has been at Sporting since 2020 and signed a new contract last week.
Adan was quoted by A Bola: “Cristiano Ronaldo can play as long as he wants. I or any other Sporting fan would like him to come to Sporting, as he is one of the best in the world. All his quality and experience would be important, but we know it’s something very complicated.”
No United fan would begrudge Ronaldo an exit after the season we are enduring and the lack of Champions League football which will be on offer next season. But if he wants to stay and fight to right the wrongs of this season, he would be more than welcome.
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