Why Cristiano Ronaldo is late for Man Utd pre-season training

Cristiano Ronaldo has been given permission by Manchester United to return late to pre-season training amid major questions over the Portugal superstar’s future.

The bombshell dropped last week that Ronaldo wants to leave Man Utd this summer over the club’s lack of competitiveness for major trophies. He wants to play in the Champions League and after a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League last season, he has been deprived of that opportunity. It was the worst finish in his long professional career.

While there remain questions over just where Ronaldo might move – few clubs can afford his hefty salary – there are clearly issues that need to be resolved between him and the Red Devils.

It had been suggested that he would hold crunch talks with new manager Erik ten Hag on Monday, when he was expected back at Carrington for training, but the Manchester Evening News have reported that he has been given additional leave by the Premier League outfit because of “family reasons”.

Nevertheless, the Mirror reports that Ronaldo has been told that he will be going on Man Utd’s pre-season tour, which begins next week with a friendly against Liverpool in Bangkok before continuing in Australia, where they will take on Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace.

This is a move that shows that Man Utd are confident that their superstar will still be in their ranks by the time the Premier League season starts on 7 August with a home encounter against Brighton.

Ronaldo had already been given an additional week as he was involved in international football in June. Ten Hag had those players not involved with their nations training as early as 27 June.

Ronaldo’s season of discontent

Rumours have bubbled over the Portuguese superstar’s discontent at Man Utd for months, with the 37-year-old reportedly disappointed at the club’s lack of competitiveness in major competition. Indeed, reports in the Daily Express suggested that he had to be talked down from forcing a move from the club as far back as January.

Despite his apparent unhappiness, he still managed to bag 24 goals in 38 matches in all competitions last season and dragged his team through numerous difficult moments, establishing himself once again as the team’s go-to player.

With Man Utd yet to make a signing, the Ronaldo transfer headache is the last thing that Ten Hag needs as a distraction as pre-season training ramps up, yet it is clearly the first big problem he needs to solve.