'Ronaldo is being disrespected' - Man Utd fans defend superstar for training no-show

Robin Bairner
Robin Bairner
  • 7 Jul 2022 06:36 CDT
  • 7 min read
Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United, 2021/22
© ProShots

Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to take part in pre-season training with Manchester United, leading to claims that his actions are unprofessional.

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Ronaldo was expected back for pre-season along with the club’s other internationals on Monday ahead of the team taking off for their tour of Thailand and Australia this weekend.

He has been excused officially because of family reasons, but there is clear doubt among some sections of the Manchester United support that these claims are legitimate.

This has forced Rio Ferdinand, Ronaldo’s former Man Utd team-mate and now a respected TV pundit, to come out and defend the club’s leading scorer from the 2021/22 season.

“I've been seeing people being a touch disrespectful. The way that people are questioning: ‘He's not here,’ and the hysteria surrounding it. A member of his family is not well, so he's not at training,” he told his FIVE YouTube channel.

“This is the most consummate, most professional athlete that we've seen on these shores. The most professional athlete we've seen for over 15 years and people are questioning this guy's professionalism and why he's not at the training ground.

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“Yeah, he might want to leave, he might not be happy with certain things at the football club, but in terms of professionalism, this guy is training where he is - we've seen the pictures.

"His family are there; he needs to be where they are and you have to respect that. Simple as. Could it have been communicated better by the club? Probably.”

Is Ronaldo being unprofessional?

It is a subject that has split Manchester United fans on social media, with the majority backing the striker and lamenting the manner in which the club has been run.

However, the feeling appears marginally in favour of the player.

Chelsea and Barcelona are among the favourites to sign Ronaldo if he leaves Man Utd this summer.

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