Posted: 21:23, July 6, 2022 | Updated: 21:23, July 6, 2022
Rio Ferdinand has defended Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese forward missed Manchester United training for the third day in a row.
Ronaldo has informed Old Trafford chiefs that he wishes to leave this summer amid concerns that he will not be able to compete for the club’s biggest trophies.
Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Napoli are on red alert and are considering a move for the volatile superstar, whose agent Jorge Mendes has already met with several clubs to discuss a potential transfer.
Cristiano Ronaldo has told Manchester United he wants to leave the club this summer
Former United defender Ferdinand, who played a role in convincing Ronaldo to return to Old Trafford last summer, believes the striker has every right to feel aggrieved with the current state of affairs at the club.
“Of course he’s not happy!” Ferdinand said on his FIVE YouTube channel. “You’re talking about Cristiano Ronaldo here! I don’t see how it’s a big story that Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t happy with the situation at Manchester United. Can not be. I would not be.
“Anyone who wants to win football matches or trophies, anyone who is used to winning and competing every year at the top of the table for the biggest prizes, and suddenly it’s not – and it’s not even qualifying for the Champions League – you can’t sit here and you expect them to be happy.
“He’s not happy about losing the Champions League, he doesn’t even know what the Europa League soundtrack sounds like! When that happens, he’ll be thinking “what dance am I in here?”
Rio Ferdinand believes Ronaldo has every right to feel sad about United’s current state
Ronaldo was due to return to training earlier this week but has not turned up at Carrington so far – citing family reasons for his absence.
Erik ten Hag is preparing his squad for their tour preparation on Friday, with the first leg in Bangkok against Liverpool on July 12, but it is not yet known whether the Portugal international will board the plane with his team-mates.
Some United fans have accused Ronaldo of refusing to train in a bid to secure his sacking, but Ferdinand has hit back at those claims.
“I’ve seen people be disrespectful,” he said. “The way people are wondering ‘it’s not here’ and the hysteria surrounding it. A family member is not well, so he is not at training.
“This is the most perfect, the most professional athlete we have seen on these shores. The most professional athlete we have seen in over 15 years and people are questioning the professionalism of this guy and why he is not on the field.
The 37-year-old was due to return to training this week but has not featured so far
The rest of the team have returned to Carrington this week, but without their star
“Yes, he may want to leave, he may not be happy with certain things in the football club, but in terms of professionalism, this guy is training where he is – we’ve seen the pictures. His family is there, they have to be where they are and you have to respect that. Simple as. Could it have been better communicated by the club? Probably.’
Ferdinand also criticized United for their lack of transfer activity so far this summer, suggesting they have failed to convince Ronaldo that they are a club worth staying at.
Ten Hag finally secured his first signing as manager as Tyrell Malacia arrived in a £14/7m deal from Feyenoord earlier this week, but talks over a move for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong appear to be stalling.
‘He [Ronaldo] he’ll be sitting there on his deckchair, on his yacht, on his jet,” Ferdinand said. Wherever he is in the world and he sees Manchester City signing Haaland. Seeing Liverpool sign Nunes amongst other players. Phillips has also been to City.
Former United defender Ferdinand played a role in convincing Ronaldo to return to Old Trafford
“He’ll be sitting there thinking ‘we had work to do to catch these guys anyway before these big signings and now they’re jumping even further away from us.’ Arsenal are making moves, they will be thinking ‘when will my team start making moves?’ We all know we need new faces in this building. He hasn’t seen any movement.
“I understand the frustrations. I would definitely be disappointed. As a player I was with the manager, with David Gill [asking] who are we signing? That’s how I was. I’m sure Cristiano is like that and other players will be like that too. He’s the biggest name, but he won’t be the only one unhappy with the situation.
“We have been slow to overcome the blocks in the transfer market. There will have been work behind the scenes at Manchester United, but we’re all human, we’re all impatient and we all want it to happen.”
