FURIOUS Erik ten Hag wants Cristiano Ronaldo out of Manchester United after sensationally axing him from his squad.
The United legend has almost certainly played his last game for the club after he REFUSED to come on as a late substitute in Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Spurs.
Ronaldo, 37, stormed down the tunnel five minutes before the final whistle and left Old Trafford while his team-mates were still celebrating on the pitch.
Boss Ten Hag has now lost patience and come down hard on the veteran striker, who:
- Was forced to train on his own yesterday and will not be allowed to rejoin the first-team squad until after their next match.
- Is also facing a staggering £720,000 fine — two weeks’ wages — for defying his manager.
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Ronaldo issued a statement last night but did not apologise for his strop.
The United boss has the full backing of the club’s hierarchy and Ten Hag dealt with the matter as soon as Ronaldo arrived for training at the club’s Carrington HQ yesterday.
The Dutchman now wants either the player’s contract, that runs to the end of the season, ripped up or for the Portuguese to be dumped in the January transfer window.
A United statement said: “Cristiano will not be part of the squad for this Saturday’s game against Chelsea.
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“The rest of the squad is fully focused on preparing for that.”
SunSport can also reveal Ronaldo has lost the backing of the few allies he had left in the Red Devils camp.
Several squad members were already upset with him for trying to engineer a move out of the club early in the season.
However, there were no takers in the summer window and Ronaldo faces being sidelined just over four weeks out from the World Cup where he will lead Portugal.
Recently he had seemed happier but his Spurs strop was the final straw for the few team-mates who had continued to back him.
ALL GONE RON WAY
The last thing Ten Hag and United need is another Ronaldo sideshow affecting the club’s form having rallied from losing their opening two games.
Ronaldo was axed from the starting XI after the 4-0 away defeat in the second league game of the season at Brentford.
He was recalled for his first league start since then in Sunday’s 0-0 draw against Newcastle but got the hump when he was hooked in the second half for Marcus Rashford.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo had his say on the fallout with a lengthy Instagram post.
He wrote: “As I’ve always done in my career, I try to live and play respectfully towards my colleagues, my adversaries and my coaches.
Sometimes the heat of the moment gets the best of us
Cristiano Ronaldo
“That hasn’t changed. I’m the same person that I’ve been for the last 20 years playing elite football and respect has always played a very important role in my decision- making process.
“I started very young and the older and most experienced players’ examples were always very important to me.
“Therefore, later on, I’ve always tried to set the example myself for the youngsters in the teams I’ve represented.
“Unfortunately that’s not always possible and sometimes the heat of the moment gets the best of us.
“Right now, I have to keep working hard in Carrington, support my team-mates and be ready for everything in any game.
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“Giving in to the pressure is not an option. It never was.
“This is Manchester United and united we must stand. Soon we’ll be together again.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
