Cristiano Ronaldo has posted on Instagram that he remains as committed as ever to Manchester United after holding clear-the-air talks with Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag.
Ronaldo was an unused substitute in last Wednesday’s game against Tottenham and he left the bench before full time to storm down the tunnel at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag later confirmed he had wanted to bring Ronaldo on, but the Portuguese star refused and left the ground instead.
This led to Ten Hag dropping the 37-year-old from his squad for Saturday’s clash with Chelsea and Ronaldo was made to train with the youth team, leaving his future at United seemingly hanging in the balance.
However, he has since spoken with Ten Hag and been brought back into the first-team and could feature against Sheriff in the Europa League on Thursday (20) night.
It has been a turbulent few months for Ronaldo after he asked to leave the Red Devils back in July.
He missed United’s pre-season tours and was only named on the bench for the side’s opening game of the season against Brighton.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner could not secure a move away before the summer transfer window shut, meaning he remained at United, but he has struggled to convince Ten Hag that he is worthy of a place in his starting line-up.
Ronaldo has started just two league games this term, and has also been an unused substitute twice against Manchester City and then at home to Tottenham.
Ten Hag put his decision to keep Ronaldo on the bench against City down to wanting to show ‘respect’ by not playing him when the team were heading for a heavy defeat.
Ronaldo appeared to accept Ten Hag’s call on that occasion, but was far from happy at being overlooked against Spurs, and did not hide his frustration when he walked along the touchline and down the tunnel prior to the final whistle.
When he was banished from the squad by Ten Hag for his actions, some fans may have wondered whether he would ever play for United again, particularly with the January transfer window opening shortly after the upcoming World Cup.
He is now back in the first-team picture, though and looks destined to get more opportunities to impress before players head to Qatar next month.
– (Daily Mail)