Expert shares worrying Cristiano Ronaldo claim after new Man United reveal
Cristiano Ronaldo will likely miss the opening games of the Premier League season for Man United due to a lack of “match fitness”, according to Noel Whelan.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, also claimed the 37-year-old will not have got to grips with the philosophy of new Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag.
As quoted by the Daily Mirror (22 July), Ten Hag revealed he has no update about when Ronaldo will rejoin his teammates for pre-season training – admitting he is concerned about the forward’s availability for the start of the season.
The Times reported earlier this month (2 July) that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner wants to quit the club this summer if a satisfactory offer comes in.
Ronaldo subsequently missed Man United’s tour of Thailand and Australia due to “personal reasons” and has been training alone back in England.
He notched 24 goals in 38 games last season after completing a sensational return to Old Trafford in August 2021.
When asked if Ronaldo will miss the opening games of the 2022-23 season, Whelan told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury: “I would have thought so.
“If you’re going to be match fit, I’d have thought he should’ve been in training with the team at least two weeks ago.
“I’m sure he’s fit anyway. He’ll be doing rigorous training sessions at the club, and he’ll have cooks and nutritionists making sure he’s in the best shape.
“But it’s also match fitness. That is the hard bit to get up to speed with. Gelling with his teammates, making the right runs, holding the ball up, getting sharp in front of goal.
“He’s not getting that because he’s not getting any games – and you can’t get that in two weeks.
“Ronaldo hasn’t got to grips with Ten Hag’s philosophy, and that will come into play at the start of the season.”
In other news, pundit backs Harry Maguire for new Man United role after confirmed news.