CRISTIANO RONALDO has told Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: ‘I’m fit to start every Premier League game.’
The Portuguese star delivered the message to Manchester United boss Ole after being on the bench for the 1-1 draw with Everton a fortnight ago.
A United source said: “Ronaldo was extremely disappointed for being benched.
“Ole presumed that he was tired after the Villarreal game, so he decided to only put him on early in the second half.
“But Cristiano told him that he will tell him when he isn’t fit to play and that he wants to play in every single league game.
“He also told him that he has come here to win trophies and that United need to play their most important players in all of the games.”
Solskjaer benched Ronaldo for the Toffees’ visit, believing the 36-year-old needed a rest after playing a full game against Villarreal three days earlier — where he scored the 95th-minute winner.
And Ron’s frustration was clear for all to see when he marched down the tunnel at the final whistle of the draw with Everton, having replaced Edinson Cavani after 57 minutes.
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Solskjaer, 48, said: “I spoke to him before the game, spoke to him after the game and he was ready to come on when he was called upon.
“Unfortunately, when we don’t win Cristiano is not happy and that’s a mindset you want from every player. That’s absolutely no problem whatsoever.”
Ronaldo was already miffed at being left out of the side for the 1-0 Carabao Cup defeat to West Ham the previous week, when Ole made 11 changes.
The conversation cannot be described in any way as a bust-up and there has been no falling out.
Solskjaer explained to his superstar he was just looking after the player’s interests but accepted the five-time Champions League winner’s viewpoint.
Ahead of today’s trip to Leicester, however, the United chief made it clear he cannot play Ronaldo all the time.
Solskjaer said: “We all want to see Cristiano because he’s unique. But the plain fact of it is he cannot play every game, that’s just physical nature.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
