CRISTIANO RONALDO was all smiles as he signed a young fan’s shirt on Friday just hours before falling ill and missing Manchester United’s clash with Leicester.
The Portuguese star made a kid’s day as he stopped to sign their replica shirt at Carrington.
Ronaldo, 37, was leaving the Red Devils’ training ground at around 2.15pm when he gave the youngster his autograph.
He subsequently fell ill, experiencing “flu-like symptoms” before missing out on United’s game.
Ronaldo wasn’t with the rest of the team as they arrived at The Lowry Hotel on Saturday morning.
Explaining the forward’s absence, interim boss Ralf Rangnick told Sky Sports: “Unfortunately, he had some ‘flu-like symptoms, which he showed yesterday.
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“Obviously, he should and would have played in the starting XI but he didn’t feel well and couldn’t train.
“Then the doctor went to see him at his house this morning to check again but he didn’t feel any better and that’s why, unfortunately, that’s why he hasn’t been able to play.
“We will play our normal formation that we always play, with Bruno (Fernandes) as a striker at a times, but also as a midfielder.
“Paul Pogba is one of the two offensive midfield players and this is how I have decided to play.”
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Ronaldo checked back in at Carrington on Thursday, after helping to guide Portugal to the World Cup during the international break.
But he was unable to take to the field as the Red Devils slumped to a 1-1 draw with Leicester – losing yet more ground in the top four race.
He previously missed United’s 4-1 defeat to Manchester City last month.
As exclusively revealed by SunSport, CR7 complained of a hip injury – AFTER finding out he’d been axed from Rangnick’s starting XI.
Ronaldo returned to action the following week, scoring a hat-trick as his side beat Tottenham 3-2 at Old Trafford.
