Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that Cristiano Ronaldo did not have permission to leave Old Trafford before the end of Sunday's pre-season friendly with Rayo Vallecano.
Ronaldo played the opening 45 minutes of the 1-1 draw before being substituted, and he did not stay at the ground for the whole game, with the forward pictured leaving alongside Diogo Dalot during the second half.
Dalot was not involved in the contest, having featured against Atletico Madrid 24 hours before, but Ronaldo had played his first minutes of pre-season and departed Old Trafford around 10 minutes before the final whistle.
There had been claims that Ten Hag had given permission for the players to depart before the end of the pre-season friendly, but the Dutchman has now insisted that was not the case.
"He was absent (from the pre-season tour) due to personal circumstances. So it's now how he puts it," Ten Hag told Viaplay Sport Nederland.
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"There were many more who went home. (So you condoned that?) Certainly not. It's unacceptable, for everybody. I tell them. That it is unacceptable and that we are a team, so a selection. That you have to stay until the end."
Ten Hag is currently preparing his side for Sunday's 2022-23 Premier League opener against Brighton & Hove Albion, with Ronaldo allegedly battling for a spot on the bench.
The 37-year-old is still said to be desperate to leave Man United this summer, and a report earlier this week claimed that he was hopeful of departing before the start of the new Premier League season.
The Portuguese is set to remain at the club leading into the Brighton contest, but his lack of football this summer, and the speculation surrounding his future, mean that he will not be considered for a start.
Anthony Martial scored three times during an impressive pre-season tour, and the Frenchman is expected to lead the line with support from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford.
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"We are planning for Cristiano Ronaldo for the season and that's it," Ten Hag told recently reporters. "I'm looking forward to working with him. I have read [that he wants to leave], but what I say is Cristiano is not for sale, he is in our plans and we want success together."
Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are among the clubs to be linked with the striker earlier this summer, but all three are said to have decided against a move.
Atletico Madrid, Napoli and Sporting Lisbon continue to be linked with the Portuguese, but the trio would find it difficult to pay his wages, in addition to the transfer fee that Man United would demand.
Ronaldo scored 24 goals and registered three assists in 37 appearances for Man United last season, but a disappointing campaign for the club saw them finish down in sixth spot in the Premier League table, meaning that they will not play in the Champions League this term.
Matt Law
