OLD TRAFFORD — Cristiano Ronaldo is back. For how long nobody knows. But his stock at Old Trafford, despite seeking pastures new less than a year after his heroic homecoming, remains as high as ever.
His first appearance in red since Manchester United’s chastening 4-0 defeat to Brighton in early May, when he came across as motivated as a schoolkid on their first day back after the summer holidays, was full of drive and effort in a 1-1 friendly draw with Rayo Vallecano.
Yet, having got his enamored fanbase all hot under the collar after an impressive 45-minute cameo, Ronaldo was pictured leaving Old Trafford before the final whistle, and, in the only interview he did with the media following the draw in United’s final pre-season friendly, conducted by MUTV, Erik ten Hag was asked about what Benni McCarthy will bring as a new coach rather than how the most famous player in the world fared. Telling.
Supporters, however, still got their Ronaldo fix. There was no start of any fan rebellion like when Wayne Rooney dared to even consider eyeing a new challenge in 2010 as Ronaldo’s appearance for the warm-up – never one to miss a trick, he made sure he was out first – was greeted with rapturous applause.
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Fans who had taken the gamble in these testing times to have Ronaldo’s name emblazoned on the club’s new home strip then cheered his name being read out with vigour in the Old Trafford sunshine.
To anyone born before 1990, it would have appeared there were a smattering of boos around the ground upon the veteran’s first touch, but a second listen would reveal the modern football phenomenon that irks so many old timers – the Siuuu celebration.
Ten Hag shoehorned this extra friendly in, less than 24 hours after their previous one, specifically to get a look a three players – Ronaldo, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez – all three making their first starts of United’s pre-season fixtures.
Ronaldo’s fitness, Ten Hag insisted after United’s 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in Oslo on Saturday, was a “long way off” the rest of the squad, given he missed the club’s tour of Thailand and Australia.
Nonetheless, seemingly keen to impress his new manager, it took only 12 minutes for a sharp Ronaldo to slip the ball onto his left foot and fire just over, getting fans off their seats en masses.
Then came the incongruous sight of Ronaldo tracking back and joining in the build-up play – a key requirement in Ten Hag-ball – which certainly turned heads.
Ten Hag, dressed like he had been showered at the office and forgotten his work shoes, instead forced to wear his white sports trainers with his blazer, is not one to hide his emotions, as several public dressings down dished out while on pre-season tour are testament to, and he did not need long to get into a heated debate with Ronaldo in the first half, with 37-year-old giving as good as he got.
One final near-perfect through pass was his final impact on the match, before Amad Diallo, who scored United’s only goal on the game three minutes after the break, replaced Ronaldo up front.
Not done there, Ronaldo was spotted leaving early, firing the transfer rumour mill into motion once more. It could mean a multitude of things: beating the traffic, avoiding the crowds or that he does not want to be there a minute longer than he has to.
Fans will be desperate to hear it is one of the first two options, but a Ronaldo blackout from the club post-match did little to dispel any talk that a departure is nearing.
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