Cristiano Ronaldo will reportedly start Manchester United's opening game of the 2022-2023 Premier League season on the bench amid ongoing uncertainty over his future at the club.
The Portuguese superstar has 12 months remaining on his £360,000-a-week deal at Manchester United but stated his desire to leave the club earlier this summer as he looks to pursue Champions League football.
The 37-year-old forward was also absent from United's pre-season tour of Bangkok and Australia after the club granted him some additional time off to deal with a family issue.
Ronaldo made his United return against Spanish outfit Rayo Vallecano - playing just 45 minutes before departing the ground ahead of the full-time whistle.
Therefore, Erik ten Hag has decided that Ronaldo will start United's opening game of the Premier League season against Brighton on the bench, according to The Sun.
The Dutch manager is set to reward Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford with a place in the starting XI after impressing during their pre-season campaign.
However, ten Hag is sweating over the fitness of Martial just four days out from their Premier League opener against Brighton on Sunday.
The Frenchman picked up an injury in United's 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in pre-season, leaving the pitch after an hour holding his hamstring.
It comes as a blow to the Dutch manager as Martial had rediscovered his best form while away on United's pre-season tour this summer.
Having fallen out of favour last season and sent on loan to Sevilla, Martial might have expected to depart the club this summer but he instead played a prominent role in pre-season and is likely to play a key role in Ten Hag's plans moving forward.
Goals against Liverpool, Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace have offered some encouragement that Martial could become a major player for United again after a number of seasons in which he struggled to match his early promise.
Should Martial be ruled out, Ten Hag could turn to Ronaldo - who only returned to the club last summer after departing in 2009 for Real Madrid.
However, Ronaldo has made it clear he wishes to leave the club this summer and secure a transfer before United's opening game of the season.
Nevertheless, Ten Hag will be eager to walk away from United's 2022-2023 opener against Brighton with a result.
Naadpsty
263
what i noticed between Real Madrid and Manchester united fans is that man U fans are hypocrites while real Madrid fans are true fans of Ronaldo no matter how hard Barcelona and other bias fans are trying to rubbish CR7 and choose to appreciate 5 goal league man Messi, real Madrid fans always appreciate their legend
UyiGentle
167
fizbizzie
96
of course on the bench, what message would Ten Hag send out if he starts a troublemaker who missed pre season. besides Ten Hag wants to win.
Naadpsty
89
he always proved doubters wrong/ if you like bench him for all season and at the end he will still become team highest goal scorer" C. Ronaldo the punisher* haters go and die
kioanortz
77
Ten hag will not take any kind of BS from Ronaldo. Ten hag is here to focus on Manchester united as whole not to satisfy Ronaldo's ego.
ThaiKa92
60
@ss burning
Kkrexuke
51
Very important msg to all the players, if you perform in training and matches, you start. not bcos of superstar status., how successful you r in the past, he many trophies you won. only the best performing 11 starts so that this gives encouragement to young players to improve. I expect anyone to be drop when they lose form.
Keccdkouy
35
Boys waiting for #EPL after two months of forcing relationships and conversations
tezcdknpz
32
If he continues playing for united this will happen again mark my words
vocaemnstz
12
what i noticed between Real Madrid and Manchester united fans is that man U fans are hypocrites while real Madrid fans are true fans of Ronaldo no matter how hard Barcelona and other bias fans are trying to rubbish CR7 and choose to appreciate 5 goal league man Messi, real Madrid fans always appreciate their legend
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So basically what you're saying is Real Madrid fans are CR7 fans first before the club, but Man Utd fans put the club ahead of CR7? Sounds alright to me as a Man Utd fan.
Pebipryz
11
what i noticed between Real Madrid and Manchester united fans is that man U fans are hypocrites while real Madrid fans are true fans of Ronaldo no matter how hard Barcelona and other bias fans are trying to rubbish CR7 and choose to appreciate 5 goal league man Messi, real Madrid fans always appreciate their legend
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u r such an a hole. how comes messi here... point is after destroying juventus n utd no one wants him n he is so selfish that he prefers UCL more than his team n so called home
FootballBible
11
what i noticed between Real Madrid and Manchester united fans is that man U fans are hypocrites while real Madrid fans are true fans of Ronaldo no matter how hard Barcelona and other bias fans are trying to rubbish CR7 and choose to appreciate 5 goal league man Messi, real Madrid fans always appreciate their legend
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Manchester United fans are just depressed. Them boys haven’t got a chance to lift a big trophy for more than 7 years
Bopciortuz
9
what i noticed between Real Madrid and Manchester united fans is that man U fans are hypocrites while real Madrid fans are true fans of Ronaldo no matter how hard Barcelona and other bias fans are trying to rubbish CR7 and choose to appreciate 5 goal league man Messi, real Madrid fans always appreciate their legend
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because true ManU fans are not blind like fake RM fans....no true fans will accept disrespect...ronaldo has become very selfish after leaving RM....now its all about him...not club or fans...wakeup d.head...
Davidchris1999
9
what i noticed between Real Madrid and Manchester united fans is that man U fans are hypocrites while real Madrid fans are true fans of Ronaldo no matter how hard Barcelona and other bias fans are trying to rubbish CR7 and choose to appreciate 5 goal league man Messi, real Madrid fans always appreciate their legend
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Because he was soo real to Madrid and not to us, not just now but even back(in 2009) when he said he was in prison in our club, he loved Madrid more than he loved us and you expect to love him unconditionally, we're not JESUS.