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Football

04th Jul 2022

Cristiano Ronaldo will not return to Manchester United training on Monday

Simon Lloyd

Ronaldo had been due to start pre-season training on Monday

Cristiano Ronaldo will not return to Manchester United training on Monday due to family reasons, the club have confirmed.

United’s international players had been given an extended summer break and were scheduled to meet up with the rest of the squad on Monday to begin their preseason training.

Ronaldo was amongst those expected to return, but has informed the club he will not be present on Monday due to family reasons. United have accepted his explanation.

Erik ten Hag and his squad are due to set off on their pre-season tour later this week, with their first game against Liverpool set to take place in Bangkok next week. It is unclear when Ronaldo is expected to return to training.

ronaldo united training

This development comes after it emerged the 37-year-old has expressed a wish to leave Old Trafford ahead of the new season.

Having sealed his return to United last September, the club endured a difficult season, finishing sixth in the Premier League and failing to win any silverware for a fifth consecutive campaign.

A lack of Champions League football in the coming season is thought to be a factor in Ronaldo’s desire to move on.

United have insisted he is not for sale, though Chelsea are thought to be interested in signing him having agreed to let Romelu Lukaku re-join Inter Milan on a season-long loan last week.

There is no suggestion that Ronaldo’s absence from training is linked to his wish to leave the club.

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