Erik ten Hag has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo for his “unacceptable” conduct after the striker left Manchester United’s final pre-season friendly against Rayo Vallecano before the end of the match.
Ronaldo made his return to the Manchester United starting XI after an extended offseason vacation, playing the opening 45 minutes of the game before being replaced by Amad Diallo.
The 37-year-old was spotted exiting the stadium before full-time, and it was later revealed that he was accompanied by Diogo Dalot and several other players.
What Did Ten Hag Say Regarding Ronaldo’s Early Exit?
While Ten Hag has stated that Ronaldo and his teammates did not have his approval, Man United executives reportedly pointed out that they had no problem with them leaving early.
The Dutchman responded to a question about Ronaldo’s behavior from Viaplay Sport: “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.”
Is Ronaldo Set To Leave Man Utd This Summer?
Ronaldo notified the club’s board of his intention to leave the team in a bid to continue playing in the Champions League, GOAL confirmed at the beginning of July.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has since been linked to rivals like Chelsea, and European Giants Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich, but his future continues to be in question heading into Sunday’s Premier League opener against Brighton.
Even though United and Ten Hag have publicly stated that Ronaldo is not for sale, transfer rumors persist and a return to Sporting CP is now being brought up.
Related: Ronaldo Leaves Old Trafford Before Full Time Following Return To Man Utd
How Will Man Utd Handle Ronaldo?
Chris Armas, who was an assistant coach for Man United during the second half of the 2021–22 season under interim manager Ralf Rangnick, has offered Ten Hag tips on how to manage Ronaldo.
While Armas was a part of the backroom staff, the seasoned forward scored 12 goals in 19 Premier League games, and the American reckons one-on-one relationship is the key to getting the best result out of him.
“It’s a hands-on approach, speaking with him, bringing him into the office, asking him questions, so he’s part of the solutions and part of the success,” Armas revealed to Sky Sports.
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