Cristiano Ronaldo has been axed from the Manchester United squad this weekend after Erik ten Hag said he will ‘deal with’ the forward’s actions against Tottenham.
Ronaldo stormed down the tunnel and even left Old Trafford as the game against Spurs was finishing.
It was a petulant act from the superstar which threatened to turn even the most ardent Manchester United fan against him.
Ronaldo’s future at United is looking increasingly bleak, and he only has himself to blame, now made to train alone. He released a statement expressing some contrition last night, but it won’t make a difference.
United fans are still waiting for Ronaldo’s ‘truth’
Cristiano Ronaldo’s time at Manchester United began to unravel back in the summer when he refused to travel on the club’s pre-season tour.
A family matter was cited, yet it became clear Ronaldo was pushing for a Manchester United exit. It wasn’t granted.
Towards the end of the transfer window, Ronaldo hit out on Instagram at the inaccuracies written in the media about him, and promised a ‘tell all’ interview, his version of the ‘truth’, Sky Sports reported.
He wrote: “You’ll all know the truth when I do an interview in a few weeks’ time.
“The media only spouts lies. I have a notebook and out of the last 100 news stories that have been written (about me), only five have been accurate. You can imagine the way things are. Bear that figure in mind.”
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag responded bluntly to Ronaldo’s planned interview in August, telling Sky Sports: “I don’t know what he will achieve with that.”
Ronaldo’s promised interview never came. Perhaps after words directly from Ten Hag, or perhaps he was bluffing all along.
He has kept a diplomatic silence, trying to stay as professional as possible at United to re-establish himself as the club’s lead striker. But it just hasn’t worked out.
The time to care is expiring
Ronaldo will eventually put his side of the story across. The main question is whether he does so while he is a Manchester United player, or waits until after he has gone.
If the forward has had personal issues, from a family matter to his own crisis of confidence, naturally it is reasonable to have some sympathy.
But Ronaldo is testing Manchester United fans’ patience, and the time to care is simply running out.
United fans are invested in Erik ten Hag’s project, and Ronaldo is currently just a third choice striker when Anthony Martial is fit.
Nobody is bigger than the club, and no matter what Ronaldo has to say about the situation, ultimately it is of little consequence.
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