Cristiano Ronaldo will not start the opening game of the season for Manchester United against Brighton & Hove Albion
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to miss out on a starting berth in the opening game of the season for Manchester United against Brighton & Hove Albion, according to James Ducker via UtdPlug on Twitter (h/t Manchester Evening News).
The Portuguese is expected to not be in Erik ten Hag’s XI on 7 August. It remains to be seen whether the 37-year-old will be on the bench. He could also be left out of the squad entirely.
Ronaldo has wanted to leave United all summer. The Portuguese missed most of the pre-season under the new manager. The 37-year-old’s first game back in a red shirt was against Rayo Vallecano on 31 July.
Ten Hag has implemented a different style of play. The players have been trained rigorously under the Dutch manager to understand the system. But, while fans have noticed changes, there’s still a long way to go.
Ten Hag has had to contend with the talks surrounding the future of Ronaldo. The Portuguese not training with the squad has only made it difficult for the new gaffer in the Old Trafford dugout.
The 37-year-old was an essential member of the team last season. Ronaldo was our top goalscorer. The Portuguese captain’s influence on the squad is immense.
Ten Hag has had to work without our best player from last season. While United have made investments in the transfer window, no players have arrived to bolster the forward line.
It’s still uncertain whether Ronaldo stays or leaves. In that case, it is crucial that the Red Devils soon find a solution and bring in reinforcements for Ten Hag.
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The 37-year-old can’t expect to start the season’s opening game at Old Trafford after missing a big chunk of pre-season. Ronaldo needs to once and for all decide his future for him so that the Dutch manager can plan for the upcoming campaign.