Cristiano Ronaldo’s behaviour UNACCEPTABLE – Ten Hag
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 23 May 2023 08:46 CDT
- 3 min read
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has said that it is “unacceptable” that Cristiano Ronaldo departed Sunday’s pre-season friendly with Rayo Vallecano before the final whistle.
Ronaldo played the first half of the match and experienced a difficult 45 minutes before being replaced.
Having missed much of pre-season due to personal circumstances, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was short of fitness and had not been expected to play a large role in the game, which was set up primarily for fringe players.
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Nevertheless, Ten Hag was angry to see his star player leave Old Trafford early as his side drew 1-1 with the Spaniards.
In an interview with Viaplay Sport in the Netherlands, he was asked whether the player was given permission to leave Old Trafford early.
“Certainly not, that is unacceptable. For everyone. I told them that it's unacceptable. That we are a team, a squad. And that you should stay until the end,” the manager said.
Not even waited for the final whistle 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/jraOWdoPd5
— Gaz (@CantonaManc) July 31, 2022
Ten Hag breaks ranks over Ronaldo
Ten Hag has broken ranks with the club on these comments. Previously, Manchester United briefed that Ronaldo and the other members of the squad who departed early, including Diogo Dalot, were given permission to depart.
This, however, was at odds with the disciplinarian stance that Ten Hag has taken since arriving at Old Trafford in the summer.
While it is little surprise that the manager is unhappy with Ronaldo in these circumstances, it is more shocking that he has come out so publicly to state his position.
It hints at a deeper war going on at Old Trafford between the player and the manager. FootballTransfers has already learned that Ten Hag was unable to take any Zoom calls from Ronaldo during his period of absence due to personal circumstances. Tensions appear high between the pair.
Ronaldo’s stance is still that he wants to leave Manchester United, but the prospects of the 37-year-old finding a buyer appear slim, with major clubs around Europe all distancing themselves from the Portuguese.
