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Ten Hag happy to have unsettled Ronaldo at Man United

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Manager Erik ten Hag speaks with United’s Alejandro Garnacho and Cristiano Ronaldo during a pre-season friendly drinks break on July 31, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reiterated his stance that Cristiano Ronaldo will remain at Old Trafford despite the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s desire to leave for Champions League football.

Ronaldo missed the majority of United’s pre-season preparations with the club excusing him from a tour of Asia and Australia for family reasons.

The 37-year-old did return for a 1-1 friendly draw against Rayo Vallecano last weekend.

However, he made headlines again for leaving Old Trafford before the end of the game.

Ten Hag described that act as “unacceptable”, but also rounded on the media for focusing on Ronaldo when other players also left the stadium before full time.

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“I told you before, we plan with the season (with him). We have a top striker and I’m really happy he’s here, he’s in the squad and we stick to that plan,” said ten Hag at his pre-match press conference ahead of his first competitive game as United boss at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday (Aug 7).

“There were many players who left, but the spotlight is on Cristiano and that is not right.

“I’m satisfied with the whole team. There is a good culture and Cristiano is working really tough and hard.”

After a disastrous campaign in which United finished sixth in the Premier League last season, an overhaul of the squad was expected over the summer.

Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata have departed after their contracts expired, but the Red Devils start the season with only three new signings – Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen.

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A prolonged chase of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who starred previously under ten Hag at Ajax has so far proved fruitless.

“It’s about the right players,” added Ten Hag on the relative lack of transfer activity.

“I cannot give comments on a player who is under contract in another club. When we have news, we will bring it.”

United forward Anthony Martial will the Brighton due to a minor injury, but new signings Eriksen and Martinez could start, said ten Hag.

Martial scored three goals in friendlies in the pre-season after returning from his loan spell at Sevilla, and ten Hag is hoping the Frenchman will shake off the problem quickly.

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“It is always difficult to say with these injuries, but hopefully not too long,” the Dutchman told reporters, adding that fans will have to wait until Sunday to see if Ronaldo will play up front.

-AFP/Reuters

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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