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    Cristiano Ronaldo blasted as a ‘prima donna’ and ‘irritating’ for waving his hands and moaning at Man Utd team-mates

    CRISTIANO RONALDO has been branded ‘irritating’ and a ‘prima donna’ for the way he waves his hands and moans at his Manchester United team-mates.The Portuguese legend, 36, came back to Old Trafford last summer and is currently top scorer with 14 goals in 22 appearances this term.
    The Manchester United legend has been heavily critical of his team-matesCredit: AFP
    But his romantic return to the Theatre of Dreams is turning into a nightmare with the Red Devils facing a huge fight to secure a place in next season’s Champions League.
    Ronaldo took aim at some of the youngsters in United’s squad last week as he told them to listen to his advice so they can finish in the top-three this term.
    That came after numerous instances of the forward, who missed the 2-2 draw at Aston Villa on Saturday, having a go at them on the pitch.
    Now Garth Crooks, who played for United during the 1980s, has told the icon that he should be looking at his own behaviour instead of taking aim at his colleagues.
    In his Team of the Week column for BBC Sport, Crooks wrote: “Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick wants his players to hold each other to account after Cristiano Ronaldo questioned their mentality.
    “Ronaldo has expressed concern about the attitude of some his team-mates and suggested it needs to be better for United to be successful this term.
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    “I couldn’t agree more – and it should start with him. Ever since he returned to Old Trafford the Portuguese international has behaved like a prima donna.
    “He may be the star of the show but the constant waving of his hands in the air when events don’t go his way – a sign that the crowd’s moans and groans regarding United’s failures are all down to his team-mates and nothing to do with him – is irritating.”
    Crooks also added that he ‘expects better’ from Ronaldo as he also reminded him that he must realise that he no longer plays for a powerhouse like Real Madrid or Juventus who dominate their respective top-flights.

    ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
    Garth Crooks has blasted Cristiano RonaldoCredit: PA:Empics Sport More

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    Man Utd star ‘warns opponent not to eat “s***” Old Trafford packed lunch after match as players shun food’

    A MANCHESTER UNITED star allegedly warned an opponent not to eat the ‘s***’ food provided for them at Old Trafford.Due to new Covid restrictions, the Red Devils now dish out packed lunches for both them and their opponents.
    A Man Utd player reportedly warned an opponent not to eat the ‘s***’ food provided for themCredit: Reuters
    United dish out packed lunches for both them and their opponentsCredit: Rex
    Staff place the boxes on a table outside of the changing rooms at the Theatre of Dreams.
    But the Daily Mail claims that the post-match food has largely been ‘left untouched’.
    And they even state that one player was so unimpressed by the food that they even dished out a warning to one of their rivals.
    They claim a United player told an opponent ‘Don’t eat them, they’re s***’.
    Ralf Rangnick’s side are currently seventh in the Premier League following their latest setback on Saturday.
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    Bruno Fernandes, who wants to be made of the club’s top earners, scored twice to give them a two-goal advantage at Aston Villa.
    But they blew that lead and ended up drawing with the Villans 2-2 after Philippe Coutinho’s introduction off the bench.
    United travel to Brentford next in the Premier League before hosting West Ham next weekend.
    ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford More

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    Bruno Fernandes ‘wants new contract in line with Man Utd’s top earners’ as club’s highest paid players are revealed

    BRUNO FERNANDES wants to become one of Manchester United’s top earners to stay at the club.The Portuguese star, 27, scored twice as the Red Devils blew a two-goal lead at Aston Villa to draw on Saturday.
    Bruno Fernandes wants to become one of Man Utd’s biggest earnersCredit: Getty
    Cristiano Ronaldo is the club’s highest-paid player on around £400,000-a-weekCredit: Getty
    That took his tally to 33 goals, plus 22 assists, since he headed to Old Trafford in January 2020.
    Only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (45) and Tottenham striker Harry Kane (34) have scored more in the Premier League during that period.
    Fernandes penned a five-year deal with the option of a further 12-months when he came to United.
    We revealed several months ago that Fernandes was in talks over a new bumper contract to boost his wages up to around £250,000-a-week.
    Now The Athletic are reporting that ‘those talks have been temporarily shelved’ after the ex-Sporting Lisbon midfielder’s representatives turned down an offer in the autumn. 
    They claim that talks will resume again in May once the current campaign has finished.
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    Cristiano Ronaldo is United’s highest earner with a wage of around £400,000 per week.
    Goalkeeper David de Gea pockets £375,000-a-week with Paul Pogba, Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial, Jadon Sancho, Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford all on over £200,000 or more weekly.
    Despite talks breaking down between Fernandes and the club, United remain relaxed about the situation.
    He is still under contract until 2025 but wants his wages to be bolstered so he is among the squad’s leading salaries.
    ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford More

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    Man Utd star Cristiano Ronaldo’s girlfriend Georgina shows off growing baby bump in tight-fitting black dress

    GEORGINA RODRIGUEZ showed off her growing baby bump with a touching ‘Three Hearts’ message as she continues to countdown the days until the birth of her twins.The pregnant 27-year-old revealed how much her belly has expanded in a tight-fitting black dress in the photo she posted on her Instagram.
    Georgina showed off her growing baby bump in the snap of her earring a black dress
    Cristiano Ronaldo and partner Georgina Rodriguez are expecting twinsCredit: Instagram / @georginagio
    Manchester United goalie David de Gea’s partner Edurne, who gave birth to their first child Yanay last March, was among the celebs who posted likes.
    Georgina’s sister Ivana, who became a mum in December, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister Katia Aveiro also commented on the snap with heart emoticons.
    The pretty brunette, who stars in an Netflix docu-series about her rags-to-riches life which is out on January 27, appeared to be getting ready for a photographic shoot.
    She wrote ‘Tres Corazones’ – Spanish for ‘Three Hearts’ in a clear reference to her unborn twins – against the snap she posted to her millions of Instagram fans.
    The model and influencer, whisked to Madrid at the start of last week on Cristiano’s £20 million private jet for a romantic meal and a night in a luxury hotel, also showed she appeared to be travelling by uploading night-time footage of an airport thought to have been taken from her footballer partner’s Gulfstream G200 jet.
    Georgina, who already has a four-year-old daughter called Alana Martina with Cristiano but treats his other three children as if they were her own, revealed last month she was expecting a boy and a girl. The twins are due to arrive in April.
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    She announced the unborn twins’ gender with an imaginative video in which she got Alana Martina and Cristiano’s other daughter Eva, also four, to burst a balloon which released pink confetti to go with the pink pyjamas they were wearing.
    Eva’s twin Mateo and Cristiano’s eldest son Cristiano Jr, nicknamed Cristianinho, were in darker outfits to match the blue confetti that appeared when they burst theirs.
    In an interview with leading Spanish newspaper El Mundo over the weekend Georgina confirmed she and her family had adapted rapidly to their new life in the UK.
    Her comments followed continuing questions about Cristiano’s Old Trafford future after crisis talks he reportedly held with his agent Jorge Mendes and the player’s insistence only a top-three league finish would do.
    Argentinian-born model and influencer Georgina, who grew up in the Spanish Pyrenees city of Jaca, also said she missed things like going to the supermarket with the Man United hero in a rare admission of what she sees as the downside of being a household name.
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    Cristiano Ronaldo poses in tiny swim shorts as he relaxes in pool at home after missing Man Utd draw with Aston Villa

    CRISTIANO RONALDO chose to spend his Sunday relaxing in his pool wearing a pair of tiny swimming shorts as he recovers from injury.The 36-year-old missed Manchester United’s 2-2 draw at Aston Villa with a thigh issue.
    Cristiano Ronaldo was relaxing in his pool as he recovers from injury
    But he seemed happy enough as he posted an envious photo of him in a pool onto Instagram.
    He simply captioned it ‘relaxing’ and gave the thumbs up, sporting his own branded shorts – although they might have been boxers.
    SunSport exclusively revealed he left training early because of a new injury, and it saw him miss the trip to Villa Park.
    Interim chief Ralf Rangnick said: “With Ronaldo, it’s unfortunate, it’s still the same problem.
    “I had a conversation with him yesterday before and after training and he decided he’s not fully fit, but hopefully he’ll be available on Wednesday.”
    Ronaldo was looked at by United’s medical specialists before driving home where he will make use of his own private oxygen chamber he has had put in his house.
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    It aids recovery from injury by breathing pure air directly into blood plasma which repairs any damaged tissue.
    The 36-year-old Portuguese star has been a workhorse since his return to Manchester in the summer, making 26 appearances for club and country since August.
    SunSport last week revealed how Ronaldo is frustrated with the tactics of interim boss Rangnick.
    A source close to Ronaldo revealed: “Cristiano is very concerned about what is happening at United.
    “The team is receiving a lot of criticism and he knows he is regarded as one of the leaders.
    “There are quite a lot of problems and Cristiano is feeling the pressure and is very stressed by the situation.
    “He desperately wants his United move to be a success, but he is starting to recognise that winning trophies with the current set up could be a real struggle.
    “Jorge came to see him and they spent time chatting through how things are going, what they think are the problems, how they might be solved and what the solutions may be.
    “Nothing has been ruled out.”
    The 36-year-old is expected to be back for United’s next game
    Cristiano Ronaldo has proved a success since he returned to United

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    Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford OUT of Man Utd squad for Aston Villa clash due to injury and being given rest

    CRISTIANO RONALDO is OUT of Manchester United’s Premier League game at Aston Villa.The 36-year-old has not recovered from a thigh injury, after SunSport exclusively revealed he left training early because of it.

    Cristiano Ronaldo is OUT of the game against Aston Villa with a thigh injuryCredit: AFP
    The Red Devils will leave out Marcus Rashford as he looks to regain formCredit: EPA
    Marcus Rashford is also sidelined following a dead-leg. although his form had been criticised in recent weeks.
    Interim chief Ralf Rangnick said: “With Ronaldo, it’s unfortunate, it’s still the same problem.
    “I had a conversation with him yesterday before and after training and he decided he’s not fully fit, but hopefully he’ll be available on Wednesday.
    “Marcus had a dead leg two days ago in training, At first it didn’t seem too bad but yesterday it didn’t get any better.”
    Ronaldo missed Monday’s 1-0 FA Cup third round victory over Villa with a hip injury.
    But this is a separate problem picked up in training at Carrington yesterday.
    Ronaldo was looked at by United’s medical specialists before driving home where he will make use of his own private oxygen chamber he has had put in his house.
    It aids recovery from injury by breathing pure air directly into blood plasma which repairs any damaged tissue.
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    But it has not worked to get him fit for the Villa clash.
    Rashford, however, has been out of sorts and might well have been omitted anyway.
    SunSport excluisvely revealed that England legend Alan Shearer has contacted Rashford to help him through his alarming slump in form.
    Manchester United star Rashford is without a goal in 11 games and has been subbed in eight of his ten starts since returning from a shoulder operation.
    Interim boss Ralf Rangnick backed Cristiano Ronaldo after the legend warned team-matesCredit: Getty
    Some of the Old Trafford crowd turned against him during the Red Devils 1-0 FA Cup win over Aston Villa on Monday night.
    All-time Premier League top scorer Shearer watched on from the stands in his role as a BBC pundit.
    Now he has called Rashford to offer him his support.
    Meanwhile, Rangnick has supported Ronaldo after the icon blasted younger Old Trafford players – urging the Portuguese attacker to keep giving advice to the squad ‘in a very direct manner’.

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    Man Utd legend Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t let Gary Neville give up ‘f***ing’ captaincy as he feared Ronaldo and Rooney row

    SIR ALEX FERGUSON didn’t let Gary Neville give up the captain’s armband at Manchester United – as he feared a Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney row.Neville revealed he felt “unworthy” of being captain but was forced into it by Ferguson in order to keep the peace in the Old Trafford dressing room.
    Neville says he was only made captain to stop Rooney and Ronaldo from rowing
    Ferguson gave Neville the captaincy after Keane’s departureCredit: PA:Press Association
    Fergie feared Rooney would “kick off” if Ronaldo was made captain so decided to keep his long-serving defender as team leader.
    Speaking on Sky Sports’ The Football Show, Neville admitted: “I got injured a year after taking the captaincy and I felt I didn’t contribute as a captain should do.
    “I went to see Sir Alex in pre-season, we had an amazing team of great personalities and players, and said I don’t feel worthy of being captain.
    “And he said, ‘You’ll keep that f***ing armband, son. You and Giggs will rotate it’.
    “He said ‘if I give it to Ronaldo, Rooney will kick off. If I give it to Vidic, Ferdinand will kick off’.
    “It was for camaraderie, we were the policemen in the dressing room, keeping things together but I felt unworthy at that stage.”
    Neville was handed the Man Utd captaincy shortly after Roy Keane’s shock departure midway through the season in November 2005.
    I think Sir Alex chose me ahead of Giggs because he was in and out of the team and I was playing every single week.Neville on being made Man Utd captain
    The former England star recalled: “I had Roy Keane as captain for ten years and Roy left really quickly and unexpectedly part-way through the season.
    “It was a huge shock and you couldn’t replicate Roy. I worked with him, Bryan Robson and Steve Bruce and they were special characters, with influence over a dressing room.
    “I couldn’t take over from Roy and be Roy, I’m not the same in character and influence.
    “I wanted to be true to myself, I was PFA union rep from the age of 23, I believed in players sticking together.
    “I think Sir Alex chose me ahead of Ryan Giggs because he was in and out of the team as Sir Alex liked to rotate his players and I was playing every single week.
    “In the five or six years I was captain it was me, Ryan and Scholes as captains. We worked together to make sure we set the tone and standards in the dressing room.
    “It was a different approach to Keane and Robson, they had influence. Roy was the most influential player I’d seen on and off a football field.”
    Rooney also opened up on his relationship with Ronaldo following the Portuguese star’s infamous wink at Euro 2004, saying it ultimately made them CLOSER.
    Ronaldo ran over to the referee in a bid to get Rooney sent-off for his stamp on Ricardo Carvalho.
    Rooney recalled: “When he ran over to ask Elizondo to send me off I pushed him away. In that moment I couldn’t believe what he was doing.
    “But sitting in that dressing room gave me time to calm down and think.
    “I put myself in Ronaldo’s shoes. Would I do the same? Probably. Would I be in the ref’s face to make sure he got sent off?
    “If he deserved the red, if it would help us win — yes, no question. I’d do it tomorrow.
    “I thought, ‘Actually, I tried to get him booked in the first half for diving’.
    “And the wink thing, I didn’t see anything in that at all. It was nothing. So I calmed down.”

    @font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:500;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-stretch:semi-condensed;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:normal;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:condensed;font-display:swap;}.css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-zkaekv{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-zkaekv::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -1px);}.css-zkaekv::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}MORE MAN UTD STORIES.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}
    Rooney added: “In the dressing room we were always really close. It was always the two of us doing pranks on the manager or other players.
    “And what had happened brought us closer together on the pitch.
    “The next three years were our best as a partnership and brought three titles and the Champions League. My red card in Gelsenkirchen was the starting point.”
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    Liverpool missed out on Man Utd star Cristiano Ronaldo just a week before transfer after ‘fee trebled’ overnight

    LIVERPOOL failed to sign Cristiano Ronaldo only a week before he joined Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson gazumped his rivals, according to Phil Thompson.The then-Reds assistant boss has revealed that his team were one of many English clubs interested in the Portuguese forward.
    Ronaldo went on to become a mega star at Old TraffordCredit: PA:Press Association
    Ronaldo had already declared that a move to Anfield was “a dream” with agents Paul Stretford, Jorge Mendes and Tony Henry negotiating his exit from Sporting CP.
    In recalling the 2003 transfer to The Athletic, Thompson states that a £4million fee was required.
    He noted: “I asked what kind of salary he would want and they said it was £1 million per year after tax. That was a lot for an 18-year-old kid but they said that was negotiable.
    “It was a Sunday and I explained to them that I needed to go back to Liverpool and speak to Gerard Houllier and see what we could do. I fed all the information back to Gerard, who said he would speak to [chief executive] Rick Parry.
    “Lo and behold, the following week I’m at Melwood when the yellow ticker on Sky Sports News says: Manchester United sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting for £12.2m.
    “I couldn’t believe my eyes.”
    As Thompson says, United had not paid the £4m fee earlier touted and he was left shocked at how the figure changed overnight.
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    The former defender continued: “Tony told me that when he’d got off the plane on the Monday he had got a call to say he was off the deal. It was down to Stretford and Mendes instead.
    “It was astonishing that the fee trebled.
    “He was clearly a big talent but no one could have predicted back then how great he was going to be.”
    Ronaldo went on to win a treble of Premier League titles in Manchester with 118 goals in almost 300 appearances in his first spell with the club.
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