CRISTIANO RONALDO was the last to leave training on Tuesday as the missing Manchester United star returned to the fold. The striker, 37, missed the derby on Sunday due to a hip injury according to Ralf Rangnick and is believed to have flown to Portugal instead. But he was back training with his team-mates today […]
CRISTIANO RONALDO was the last to leave training on Tuesday as the missing Manchester United star returned to the fold.
The striker, 37, missed the derby on Sunday due to a hip injury according to Ralf Rangnick and is believed to have flown to Portugal instead.
But he was back training with his team-mates today after being escorted to Carrington by bodyguards.
Ronaldo was said to be fuming after being told on Friday that he would not be starting at The Etihad and his United future is now in doubt.
His team-mates were then shocked when he did not turn up for Saturday’s club meal, with Ronaldo also absent for the 4-1 defeat.
United club policy directs players to undergo injury rehabilitation in Manchester rather than flying abroad – raising doubts about the extent of Ronaldo’s injury.
It has been speculated that Ronaldo was left out against City due to tactical reasons with Rangnick failing to select a recognised striker.
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But after the loss Rangick insisted Ronaldo was not fully fit.
He said: “I have to believe my medical department.
“Our doctor came to see me Friday morning before training and said Cristiano could not train because of some problems with his hip flexor and the same Saturday.”
Sky Sports pundit and former United star Roy Keane was sceptical about the situation.
He said on Sky’s coverage of the match: “I don’t like it when the manager talks about this ‘hip flexor’ – I don’t get it.
“We talk about Ronaldo being a machine, very rarely injured then every now and again he comes out with ‘hip flexor’, it doesn’t add up to me.”
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