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Cristiano Ronaldo WILL return to Man United’s roster for Thursday’s Europa League game with sheriff, Erik ten Hag confirms, after the star backed out in his will to battle with the ousted manager
- Cristiano Ronaldo will be involved in Man United’s game on Thursday evening
- They take on Moldovan team Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League at Old Trafford
- Erik ten Hag dropped Ronaldo after he left the ground early in Tottenham victory
- The 37-year-old missed Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea in the Premier League
- But he returned to team training on Tuesday after talks with the manager
- Ten Hag wanted Ronaldo to realize that he had been wrong
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Cristiano Ronaldo will return to Manchester United’s squad on Thursday evening for their UEFA Europa League match against Sheriff Tiraspol, manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed.
The Portuguese star was dropped from United’s squad for Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea after walking irritably through the tunnel before the end of their win over Tottenham at Old Trafford and refusing to come on as a substitute.
Ronaldo withdrew from his will war with Ten Hag after they had talks and returned to training with the squad in Carrington on Tuesday after being forced to do fitness work alone.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who returned to team training on Tuesday, will be in Manchester United’s squad on Thursday night for their Europa League game against Sheriff Tiraspol
Ronaldo was banned from the first team photo after his breakdown at Old Trafford last week
Ronaldo refused to come in and left Old Trafford full-time in 2-0 win over Spurs
Ten Hag was hesitant to discuss the Ronaldo issue during his Wednesday afternoon press conference, but he confirmed that he would be in the selection on Thursday evening.
“Yes, Cristiano will be in the selection tomorrow,” said Ten Hag.
‘It’s not difficult. I think we’ve said everything, we’ve answered all the questions. He was out for one game and now he’s back in the selection.’
Ten Hag wanted to make sure Ronaldo accepted the snub was wrong after the player admitted he was acting “in the heat of the moment”.
The two men are said to have been in constant conversation in recent days and Ten Hag was satisfied with what he heard to get Ronaldo back in the fold yesterday morning, when the players resumed training after two days off.
It is an important win for Ten Hag, who had little choice but to punish United’s most high profile player for challenging his authority.
Erik ten Hag will feel his authority has been strengthened after Ronaldo fell back in line
The Dutchman must now hope that Ronaldo stays on the line, at least until the January transfer window, when his future at Old Trafford can be reconsidered.
The 37-year-old still wants to leave and United would be open to letting him go if they can sign a replacement.
Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes is said to have spoken with Newcastle in recent days, but it could be difficult to find an alternative club to the former Real Madrid and Juventus star midway through the season.
It was also important for Ronaldo to draw a line under the incident and get back into action, with Portugal’s World Cup opener against Ghana less than a month away.
More to follow.