Roy Keane: 'Man United are disrespecting Cristiano Ronaldo'

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has claimed that the club are treating Cristiano Ronaldo with "disrespect" after Sunday's Manchester derby defeat.

The Red Devils were thrashed 6-3 by their local rivals Manchester City following hat-tricks for both Erling Braut Haaland and Phil Foden.

Ronaldo watched on from the bench as an unused substitute, with United boss Erik ten Hag stating after the game that he did not want to introduce the forward "out of respect" for his career.

However, Keane believes that the Red Devils have shown Ronaldo "disrespect" and they should have let him leave in the summer when the 37-year-old expressed a desire to play for a club involved in the Champions League.

Keane told Sky Sports: "I think United are showing disrespect to Ronaldo. He should have been let go before the transfer window.

"The manager held on to him. Ok, he said he wanted options. But you don't hold on to Ronaldo to sit on the bench. He is one of the greatest players ever.

"He had options [to move in the summer]. This idea he didn't have options is rubbish. He had four or five good options.

"The big picture is that he [Ten Hag] is not going to play Ronaldo. It is just going to get uglier as the season goes on. United have shown nothing but disrespect to Ronaldo."

The Portugal international has scored one goal in two Europa League starts, but Ten Hag has only included him in one Premier League starting lineup this term.