After exchange with ten Hag: Ronaldo back in training at Manchester United

Transfer rumors persist

Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to Manchester United training. On Tuesday, the 37-year-old Portuguese was allowed to play again with his team-mates after coach Erik ten Hag suspended him last Thursday. The reason for the ban was Ronaldo’s premature exit from the Premier League game against Tottenham, when the substitute left the inside of the stadium before the final whistle.

Ten Hag ordered individual sessions for Ronaldo with the club’s fitness coaches after the scandal and didn’t even consider him for Saturday’s league game at Chelsea (1-1). “It’s a difficult decision, of course,” the coach said last week, but made it clear that he would have to take action after Ronaldo’s behavior. “It’s about the club. I have to make decisions in the interest of the club and especially the team. That’s my job.” It’s not about a player’s name, reputation or age: “I pick the team that I think has the best chance of winning.”

The player himself had meanwhile commented on the incident via Instagram. According to reports, Ronaldo and ten Hag have been in regular and open contact over the past few days, and as a result the ban has been lifted. For the Europa League home game on Thursday against Sheriff Tiraspol (from 9 p.m. in the TM live ticker) the offensive power is available again. It remains to be seen whether the centre-forward will be in the starting XI, as he was last time in this competition, or whether he will play as a joker at most, as in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, speculation about a possible departure of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner continues. Adviser Jorge Mendes should continue to offer the superstar, whose contract with United expires at the end of the season, at various clubs in Europe – most recently repeatedly at SSC Napoli and Olympique Marseille (all Ronaldo rumors at a glance).

Ronaldo’s record under ten Hag reads frighteningly. He was only allowed to play the full 90 minutes once this season – in the embarrassing 4-0 defeat at Brentford on Matchday 2. After 13 matchdays he has only scored once and has not prepared a goal yet. Despite his numerous records, the now 37-year-old is no longer considered the goal machine he once embodied at Juventus Turin (134 competitive games/101 goals) or Real Madrid (438/450).

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