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Step by step, game by game, Cristiano Ronaldo walks away from Manchester United; but not in the way he imagined.
Given that United’s next home game is against Arsenal Sunday week, after the transfer deadline, he may have played his last game at Old Trafford.
If so, it was an ominous affair. A nine-minute substitute appearance – including five minutes added time – with a shot off target and not much else.
Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Manchester United; not as he imagined
United were offered a bright future without Ronaldo when a youthful Erik ten Hag side beat Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford on Monday night – Ronaldo came on as an 86th-minute substitute
The Portuguese was dropped and left to warm up the bench for the vast majority of the game
His arrival was loudly applauded, as always, but as he left the pitch the attention was elsewhere – largely on a younger and more dynamic United side who had beaten Liverpool in the league for the first time since 2018. A team that ostensibly entered the future without Ronaldo.
Earlier this summer, when he made it clear that the pictures had outgrown him at United, he no doubt imagined being chased down the street by suitors and by United as well, begging him to stay.
It does not work like that. The link with Chelsea was going nowhere and there was little interest from the Premier League top flight.
As Ronaldo is determined to maintain his starting record every season since 2002-03 as a Champions League player, he had few options in this country, to say the least. There was a backlash against interest from Atletico Madrid and nothing to do in Italy after an unremarkable spell at Juventus.
But what has really changed for Ronaldo in recent months is his relationship with United. It is no longer about him and where he is going, but rather what the club will do with him.
Erik ten Hag speaks encouragingly about the role Ronaldo can play as there’s no point undermining a potential asset and influential player in the dressing room, but Ronaldo is now in uncharted territory.
New boss Ten Hag (right) has spoken encouragingly of the role Ronaldo can play as there’s no point in undermining an influential player, but Ronaldo is now in uncharted territory.
For arguably the first time in his career, his club look better without him – as young striker Anthony Elanga and Jadon Sancho impressed against Liverpool in the 37-year-old’s absence.
For the first time in his career, his club looks better without him. Against Liverpool, they were far superior to any version of the team seen this year; and Ronaldo was not on the pitch.
Likewise, he is no longer the exemplary professional, the standard to be followed by all. Knowing the club tour – even for personal reasons – and not fit enough to start the season, he’s not the Ronaldo we know.
Ronaldo may have been a demanding individual, but he was always worth it. He led by being the best and most diligent, most capable worker on the team. First on the training ground, last off.
Patrice Evra once accepted an invitation to lunch at Ronaldo’s and discovered that his motive was not company but a fitness buddy. Only soft drinks were offered and the food was just sport fuel. Ronaldo’s idea of fun was another workout.
So this season, he already has two strikes against him. Seeing Ten Hag’s United in full flight on Monday with a pressing mobile attack in a way Ronaldo simply cannot, may have strengthened some’s resolve that there is only one way forward from from here. He no longer makes this starting eleven.
He seems aloof these days, active on social media but not immediately welcoming his former Real Madrid colleague Casemiro to the club – something team-mate Raphael Varane, who followed the same path from Spain, did. minutes after the deal was announced.
When Ronaldo made it clear earlier this summer that he wanted to leave, he imagined himself being chased down the street by suitors, with United begging him to stay – that didn’t happen.
Ronaldo’s marriage is over – but this time it’s Ten Hag’s United who want the divorce
There seems to be a stalemate. If Ronaldo was unimpressed with the prospect of Europa League football this season – he last featured in the competition 20 years ago – he will be even less impressed at the prospect of any tournament in the UEFA could represent his best chance to start.
Ronaldo, the Europa League man – in Europe his reputation still intimidates no doubt – is not a role he will relish. Ronaldo the Premier League super-sub, his position against Liverpool, let alone.
Ten Hag has insisted that Ronaldo could feature in the future and could play in a pressing game but there is little evidence of that so far. There is also no queue of buyers wanting to solve United’s problem, although one could emerge when the final Champions League roster is known.
There have been some suggestions of a romantic return to Sporting Lisbon, although the romance could be dead when he sees his paycheck.
Either way, it wasn’t the outing or summer that Ronaldo had planned, hence his shyness in talking about it. He says he will reveal the truth about his feelings and actions when the transfer window closes, but we might not have to wait that long.
At Old Trafford on Monday the picture became much clearer. It just wasn’t the one Ronaldo hoped to see.
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