CRISTIANO RONALDO has broken his silence after being dropped from the squad to face Chelsea this weekend.
Goals from Fred and Bruno Fernandes sealed a big win for the Red Devils at home, but the game was over-shadowed by Ronaldo's antics.
The Portuguese legend sat on the bench for the entire game until he stormed down the tunnel before the final whistle.
However, Ronaldo took to social media to apologise for his actions and promised to continue to work hard in training.
Get all the latest news, updates and transfer gossip here…
- Kealan Hughes
Good morning Man Utd fans
CRISTIANO RONALDO may have played his last game for Manchester United.
It comes after manager Erik ten Hag was left furious by Ronaldo storming off down the tunnel after REFUSING to come on as a sub during United's 2-0 win against Tottenham.
The fallout from the debacle thus far has seen Ten Hag banish the 37-year-old to the reserves, with United putting out a club statement confirming Ronaldo would not be involved when United face Chelsea.
Ronaldo was spotted arriving for training ahead of his showdown talks with the United manager.
He later broke his silence on Instagram, saying: "Right now, I just feel that I have to keep working hard in Carrington, support my teammates and be ready for everything in any given game.
"Giving in to the pressure is not an option. It never was.
"This is Manchester United, and united we must stand. Soon we’ll be together again."
Regardless, it seems destiny is now pointing to a January exit for the Portuguese forward with Ten Hag now willing to sanction his departure.
Ten Hag has also revealed the contract situation surrounding number one David De Gea will not be looked at until winter.
He said: "We didn’t make a decision on him but… as a person, I like him.
"I can really cooperate with him really well but first we go to the winter and then we will talk about how (to) deal with such situations."
In the meantime, United have been told by club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy that they are not the only ones in the transfer race for winger Cody Gakpo.
- Tony Robertson
The end of United Ronaldo?
Cristiano Ronaldo could have played his final game at Manchester United.
It comes after he was banished to the reserves for storming off down the tunnel upon REFUSING to come on off the bench during United's 2-0 victory over Tottenham.
Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag has been left furious with the 37-year-old and is now prepared to let him go – while simultaneously slapping him with a £720,000 fine.
- Tony Robertson
Cristiano statement
Cristiano Ronaldo has released the following statement on his Instagram page following the revelations about his Tottenham tantrum and the fallout from it which has seen him banished from the first team.
- Tony Robertson
Mad Morgan
Piers Morgan slammed Erik ten Hag's treatment of Cristiano Ronaldo as "disrespectful".
Ronaldo was an unused sub in Wednesday's 2-0 win over Tottenham and stormed down the tunnel before leaving Old Trafford before full-time.
And following the news Ronaldo has been banished to the Under 21's following his mutiny, Morgan has since added: "Disgraceful.
"Ten Hag once again opting to humiliate the greatest footballer in history & Utd’s top scorer last season.
"Ronaldo should find another club asap where they treat him with the respect he’s earned."
- Tony Robertson
RONALDO WILL NOT FEATURE VS CHELSEA
Manchester United have confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo will not feature against Chelsea AND has been dropped to the Under 21s.
In a club statement, they said: "Cristiano Ronaldo will not be part of the Manchester United squad for this Saturday’s Premier League game against Chelsea.
"The rest of the squad is fully focused on preparing for that fixture."
It comes after Ronaldo stormed down the tunnel BEFORE FULL-TIME of their 2-0 win over Tottenham.
Read more here.
- Tony Robertson
RONALDO BOMBSHELL
Cristiano Ronaldo refused to come on as a sub in Manchester United's 2-0 win over Tottenham and left BEFORE FULL-TIME, it has been claimed.
The Old Trafford legend stormed down the tunnel and departed before other players following Wednesday's Premier League triumph.
More here
- Tony Robertson
Fred Frolick
Towards the final whistle against Tottenham, the Stretford End began singing "Fred, Fred will Tear You Apart", a song previously reserved for Ryan Giggs to the tune of the Salford band’s famous Love Will Tear Us Apart.
This came much to the delight of Fred, despite him not knowing who the band – Joy Division – are.
He said: "I don’t know them. I’m very happy with the song, with the supporters. I’m just very happy with the team and the supporters. The fans were fantastic, they made a difference."
- Tony Robertson
Ruud Ron beef
PSV manager Ruud van Nistelrooy made Cristiano Ronaldo cry in an ill-timed argument shortly following the death of the Portuguese star's father.
Ex-Man Utd striker Louis Saha revealed: "Ruud had that kind of ego (to score goals), he wanted all the passes.
"And sometimes, for the development of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, it was difficult for the manager to deal with.
“Did Ruud make Ronaldo cry? Yeah, there were stories because I think they ended up in an argument at the moment when Cristiano’s father had passed away, so it wasn’t the right moment.
"Things like that happen when two players have lots of spirit, but I’m sure Ruud regrets some of his words."
- Tony Robertson
Gakpo transfer race
Manchester United have been warned they are not the only team pursuing a transfer for PSV winger Cody Gakpo.
Ahead of the Dutch side's rearranged Europa Clash with Arsenal, manager Rudd van Nistelrooy revealed Gakpo had been the subject of interest from a number of clubs.
United held talks over a transfer for the winger over the summer to no avail, and Erik ten Hag remains keen despite failure over the summer.
But United legend Van Nistelrooy warned there were multiple teams in the race for him.
He said: "I think there is not only Premier League clubs after him.
"Of course, with the quality he is showing and the form he is having over the last three-four months is exceptional.
"His stats, his assists and goals that he is involved in, of course, draws the attention of the best clubs in European football.
"The good thing about him is that he is aged 23 years old and is purely focused on his development and becoming a better player, doing well and captaining PSV the best he can."
- Kostas Lianos
Phil Neville future
Manchester United hero and Inter Miami boss Phil Neville hopes to find out this week about his MLS future as he and all of his backroom staff are out of contract at the end of the season.
After crashing out of the play-offs in the first round against reigning champs New York City FC on Monday, owner and Neville's ex-team-mate David Beckham has a big decision to make.
The former Lionesses boss is desperate to stay in south Florida and knew getting to the play-offs was a minimum requirement for Beckham.
But he has been worried about his situation for a while now and wants to hold talks with Becks immediately
- Kostas Lianos
De Gea contract latest
Manchester United will not decide on David de Gea's future until the winter, claims Erik ten Hag.
De Gea's deal runs out in June but United have the option to extend for an additional year.
Ten Hag said: "We didn’t make a decision on him but what I can say is that I am really happy with David de Gea as a keeper.
"His first two performances of the season were not his best performances but after you see he brings us a lot for the defensive department, gives stability.
"And, as a person, I like him, I can really cooperate with him really well but first we go to the winter and then we will talk about how [to] deal with such situations.
"In this moment we only think about performing, we have a lot of games to go, so I don’t want to get that interfered by talks, we have to focus on football and performances, not on negotiating. That’s what we have to do now"
- Kostas Lianos
Agbonlahor slams Ronaldo
Gabriel Agbonlahor slammed Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo for storming down the tunnel before full-time against Tottenham.
Agbonlahor said: "He's a spoilt brat. To walk down the tunnel like that is a disgrace.
"You can't do that. It is so disrespectful to your team-mates.
"If I am in the changing room with Ronaldo, I want my manager to make a statement. I would leave Ronaldo out of the Chelsea game"
- Kostas Lianos
Cristiano Ronaldo criticised
Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was widely criticised by pundits for his reaction to not getting on against Tottenham.
Ex-England defender Danny Mills said: "If he has done that, it’s an absolute disgrace.
"I think that’s disrespectful to the team, to the manager, to the fans.
"They’re winning 2-0. What complaint can he have? If they were losing 2-0, it still wouldn’t be right but I would sort of understand it.
"He clearly thinks he’s bigger than the club"
- Kostas Lianos
Gakpo idolises Arsenal legend
PSV Eindhoven star and Manchester United target Cody Gakpo revealed he has been idolising Arsenal legend Thierry Henry for a few years now.
The winger has been linked with a move to the Gunners, United, Leeds and Southampton.
Gakpo said: “I’m a tall winger, but when you look for tall wingers, there aren’t so many, so a few years ago, I started watching Henry & tried to learn something from him; the way he comes in from the left & shoots with his right.
“I tried to copy him a bit”
- Kostas Lianos
Ronaldo spotted in training
Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has arrived at Carrington for training.
Ronaldo drove to United’s training ground just a few hours after his side's 2-0 victory over Tottenham at Old Trafford.
The 37-year-old stormed down the tunnel with a handful of minutes remaining in the match.
Reports also suggest the forward left Old Trafford before the final whistle.
United manager Erik ten Hag said he would address the incident at some point today
Credit: Eamonn and James Clarke Credit: Eamonn and James Clarke
- Kostas Lianos
Ring my Bell
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has made Borussia Dortmund star and Manchester United target Jude Bellingham his top transfer target as part of a major club revamp.
Bellingham, 19, has attracted interest from several suitors, such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, United and Liverpool after some impressive performances at Dortmund.
The Reds recently emerged as favourites to land the ex-Birmingham star as Jurgen Klopp is desperate to strengthen his midfield.
According to the Evening Standard, however, Boehly is planning to steal a march on Liverpool as he has identified the England international as a priority signing
- Kostas Lianos
More from Ferdinand
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand finds manager Erik ten Hag's decision not to play Cristiano Ronaldo "baffling" after the summer drama.
Ferdinand added: "So you sit here and think 'why did Man Utd not just let him go then?' if Erik ten Hag kind of knew he wasn't going to part of his main plans.
"That's the baffling part for me because you think what someone's done in their career, at his level, the manager surely would have known before the season started 'am I going to really play Ronaldo a lot? Is he really what I want in my team? Is he the future of what I'm building around?'
"It looks to me right now as though he would have aired on the side of 'no'. If that's the case, I feel he probably should have let Cristiano go.
"It's probably going to be something that hampers him [Ten Hag] going forward until the day Ronaldo leaves the football club because of how big he is, how much of an icon, how much of a superstar he is"
Credit: Rex - Kostas Lianos
Move him Ron
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has slammed manager Erik ten Hag’s “unfair” decision to leave Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench for their 2-0 victory over Tottenham.
Ferdinand, who played with Ronaldo during his first stint at the club, feels it is not fair on anyone for the situation to carry on like this and CR7 should thus be allowed to leave.
Speaking on his FIVE YouTube channel, he said: “My only thought could be that Cristiano is being saved for the weekend against Chelsea. That’s the only way I see it, logically.
“He didn’t play today and I think Ronaldo will be absolutely fuming with that naturally and I wouldn’t expect anything different from him.
“I think the big problem Erik ten Hag’s got is that, coming up to this next window, I think he’s got to think very carefully about what he does. If he doesn’t see Cristiano Ronaldo as a starter in his team more often than not, I think he has to release him from the contract, has to let him go.
“It’s not fair on anybody – the club, Cristiano, Erik ten Hag or the players – that after every game he doesn’t start is ‘why didn’t didn’t Cristiano Ronaldo start?’ and that’s the story. Man Utd have won 2-0 today and one of the leading stories will probably be about Ronaldo tomorrow and that can’t be right”
- Kostas Lianos
Don’t Cont on it
Tottenham boss Antonio Conte has ruled his team out of a Premier League title challenge after losing to Manchester United.
Spurs suffered a 2-0 defeat to United at Old Trafford on Wednesday with Fred and Bruno Fernandes scoring.
Conte said: “Every time we play a game at high level, we struggle. We struggle against Chelsea, Chelsea dominated the game – I want to be honest.
“With Arsenal we lost and today [Wednesday] against United we lost. For sure, when the level is high we are going to struggle.
“Sometimes I hear that we [Tottenham] are title contenders and I think we need time.
“In only 10 [or] 11 months you can’t pass from ninth place to become a title contender the year after”
- Kostas Lianos
Bru better believe it
Premier League legend Alan Shearer believes Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes looks happier without Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch.
While on commentary duties for Amazon Prime Video, Shearer said: "Would I be stirring if I said Bruno looks happier in this team without Ronaldo?
"I just look at his performance tonight and his energy and look at his leadership and the qualities he has offered both defensively and offensively and he has done so much for them in this performance tonight.
"He deserved that goal"
- Kostas Lianos
Ferdinand praises Casemiro
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand heaped praise on Casemiro, who excelled in the win over Tottenham.
Ferdinand said: "The moment he [Casemiro] has got back in the team, been given a run in the team, he's producing the performances that we expected.
"But the biggest thing, he is like the glue in the team, but also he is the one that allows other players to go and perform.
"He protects the back four, he releases the midfielders to go and do their creative stuff. I think he's a fabulous acquisition that we've got.
"I don't know what the manager was waiting for. He [Erik ten Hag] seems like someone who wants to keep winning teams playing. But Casemiro positionally today was absolutely immense"
Credit: Reuters
- Kostas Lianos
The Ron solution
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes he has a way of getting Cristiano Ronaldo back in the team.
Ferdinand told his FIVE YouTube channel: "I think [Marcus] Rashford would be great with Ronaldo, I think they'd be an unbelievable pairing if you could play two up there.
"Or if you play Rashford off of one of the sides, joining Cristiano and being that outside to inside wide player like the Son [Heung-min]s of this world, running in behind centrally from wide areas. I think he'd be magnificent at that as well."
Ferdinand continued: "I thought today [Wednesday] he [Rashford] did well at everything other than score"
- Kostas Lianos
More from Ten Hag
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was asked whether Cristiano Ronaldo had permission to head for the dressing room early.
Ten Hag said: "In answer to your question, we deal with that on Thursday and what we have seen tonight was 11 players who defend, 11 players who attack.
"There was a lot of dynamic in the attack as well.
"I have to mention, I said 11 players, I have to correct myself, it was a performance also from the subs who came on who had a good role"
- Kostas Lianos
Ten Hag addresses Ronaldo exit
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag refused to address Cristiano Ronaldo's walkout last night and insisted he will deal with it today.
Ten Hag said: "We will deal with that on Thursday. I saw him leaving but I didn’t speak to him after.
"I don’t pay attention to that, we want to focus on this team, it was a magnificent performance from all 11 players.
“Tonight we celebrate the result and the rest we deal with on Thursday"
- Kostas Lianos
Ron the way out
Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo left Old Trafford before the final whistle of the 2-0 win over Tottenham on Wednesday.
Ronaldo, 37, stormed down the tunnel with a handful of minutes remaining in the game.
According to The Athletic, the star forward left the ground altogether before the match came to an end.
However, the Portugal international's absence did not spoil the dressing room celebrations as the players enjoyed a "vibrant" post-match party after their impressive win.
It's claimed that the 37-year-old's absence "didn't really register" with his team-mates.
United manager Erik ten Hag had used just three of his five permitted subs at the time Ronaldo left the substitutes bench and headed down the tunnel
Credit: Getty
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