The Cristiano Ronaldo saga sadly continues to drag on, with the latest development being the player's actions during their recently friendly at home to Rayo Vallecano.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who has informed the Red Devils of his desire to leave the club this summer, made the headlines after he was pictured leaving Old Trafford early during their clash with Rayo Vallecano. The Portuguese ace was named in the lineup but after being subbed off shortly after the break, the striker decided to depart the stadium prematurely instead of waiting until full-time.
This sparked controversy as fans were unsure whether the iconic striker exhibited a public display of unprofessionalism or whether the 37-year-old had permission from his employers to head out early. We have finally received that answer from the manager himself and it doesn't paint a pretty picture of Ronaldo.
Ten Hag spoke to Viaplay about this matter and admitted that he condemns his players for this "unacceptable" move, all but admitting that Ronaldo did not have the green light from his club. And even more interestingly, as pointed out in the previous sentence, there were others who followed suit, refusing to wait until the end of the game before heading out of Old Trafford.
"There were many more who went home. I certainly don't condone this. This is not acceptable. For everyone. I tell them that it's unacceptable. That we are a team, a squad. And that you should stay until the end," was the former Ajax tactician's message.
Ten Hag to Viaplay: "There were many more who went home. I certainly don't condone this. This is not acceptable. For everyone. I tell them that it's unacceptable. That we are a team, a squad. And that you should stay until the end." #MUFC https://t.co/K6VnWyU2au
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) August 3, 2022
While clarity has been offered by the manager in regards to this issue, it remains uncertain whether Ronaldo will be a Manchester United player or not come the end of the summer transfer window. The attacker is pushing for an exit in the hope of securing UEFA Champions League football this upcoming season, as Manchester United failed to finish in the top four last term, but no top European side has shown interest in the legend so far.
There have been links with Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, and Chelsea but all three have turned down the opportunity to sign one of the greatest footballers in history. The Red Devils, meanwhile, are eyeing a move for RB Salzburg sensation Benjamin Šeško but need to find a resolution for the Cristiano debacle first before mounting a bid.
