Cristiano Ronaldo will not be playing for Manchester United when they travel to face Liverpool at Anfield tonight.
Ronaldo will be absent after the death of his newborn son, which he disclosed on social media on Monday.
A statement on the club website read: “We can confirm that he will not feature in the match against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday evening and we underline the family’s request for privacy.”
Ronaldo last night announced the death of his newborn son. His newborn twin daughter twin is alive.
This is the kind of situation when makes everyone realise what is truly important and club rivalries are set aside.
According to the Mirror, Liverpool fans are planning a minute’s applause in the seventh minute tonight, because that is Ronaldo’s legendary shirt number.
The gesture is thought to be being planned on Facebook, and hopefully a large number of fans inside Anfield get on board with the plan.
The rivalry is among the most hostile in British football but it would show that the fans can show their more human side away from that.
United and Liverpool to wear black armbands
Both teams will wear black armbands on the night, United have confirmed.
Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in United’s last game, against Norwich, but Ralf Rangnick will need to find a replacement at Anfield.
There has been no indication of when Ronaldo will return and it is only right that he and his family are given the time they need to deal with their loss.
Cristiano Ronaldo: One of the greatest ever
- Ronaldo signed for Manchester United in 2003
United paid just £12 million to sign Ronaldo from Sporting. He went onto score 118 goals for United and won the Premier League title three times.
- A five times Champions League winner
Ronaldo won the Champions League for Manchester United in 2008. He then went on to win the trophy a staggering four more times with Real Madrid.
- Goal hungry superstar
Ronaldo once netted 42 goals in a season at United, a figure he smashed at Real Madrid. He once scored 61 goals in a single season for Real and 60 in another. He scored 101 goals in his last three years at Juventus alone.
- International star
Ronaldo broke the all-time international goal scoring record in 2021 to move clear as the most prolific player ever for his country.
- Multiple time Ballon d’Or winner
Ronaldo has now won the Ballon d’Or Award five times, finishing in second place on six occasions.
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