Man United: Cristiano Ronaldo questions to overshadow Erik ten Hag preparation
If the first week of pre-season training gave Erik ten Hag an opportunity to create a positive atmosphere at Manchester United, week two has been an altogether more sobering experience for the Dutchman.
Confirmation over the weekend of reports previously circulating in Spain and Portugal that Cristiano Ronaldo wants to cut short his return to Old Trafford after one year was followed by the Portuguese star being absent when United's international players reported for duty at Carrington on Monday morning after the club gave him compassionate leave for 'family reasons'.
The rest of United's squad had enjoyed their first week under the new manager: an earlier start and double sessions while mixing up the disciplines and drills to keep them interesting. Ten Hag had generated a positive mood while also establishing his authority.
That changed on Monday morning when the United players arrived at Carrington to be met by the familiar sight of TV cameras at the front gate. 'Everything was so positive and now the circus is back,' observed one insider.
Many of the United players aren't surprised by Ronaldo's desire to leave. Some assumed he would only stay for a year once he realised just how far standards had slipped at the club in the 12 years he had been away.
They know how ambitious, how driven, Ronaldo is and guessed that he wouldn't want his legacy to end in the Europa League.
For Ten Hag, on the other hand, the whole saga represents a horrible distraction as he tries to give United a fresh start.
Unsettled star players are a manager's worst nightmare, and they don't come much bigger than Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 37-year-old has been absent for four days now and it seems unlikely he will board the plane with his teammates on Friday when United fly to Bangkok to begin their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia.
Ten Hag is due to face the media before United play Liverpool at the Rajamangala National Stadium on Tuesday and there is likely to be only one subject on the agenda.
The issue surrounding Ronaldo's future is the first big challenge for the new United manager and an unwanted one at that.
Coupled with the lack of progress in the transfer market so far this summer, it is not how Ten Hag would have wanted to start his new job.
United have signed Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord and have a verbal agreement with Christian Eriksen but their No 1 target, Frenkie De Jong of Barcelona, continues to elude them.
Ten Hag would have liked a few more bodies on board for the Liverpool exhibition which is followed by friendlies against Melbourne, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.
United only have two more games before the start of the season, against Atletico Madrid in Oslo and Rayo Vallecano at home 24 hours later.
It's understood that Ten Hag – who will take charge of both games – will play his stronger side against Atletico and give game time to the other players in the second match.
United kick off the season at home to Brighton a week later, and Ten Hag knows the importance of a good start in the wake of the club's worst ever Premier League campaign.
Will he be able to call on Ronaldo? United remain adamant the player is not for sale and is under contract for another year. His agent Jorge Mendes is trying to change that situation, and there is interest from Chelsea and Napoli.
United could well stick to their guns or decide that there is no point keeping an unhappy player. Either way, it's a sideshow Erik ten Hag could well have done without
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Man United: Cristiano Ronaldo questions to overshadow Erik ten Hag preparation
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