Ronaldo discovers Man Utd fine decision after failing to turn up to pre-season
Manchester United bosses will not punish Cristiano Ronaldo for missing the club's summer tour of the Far East and Australia.
Ronaldo is not expected to be on the plane on Friday when the United squad travel to Bangkok to begin a pre-season tour which kicks off with a showdown with bitter rivals Liverpool in the Thai capital next week. The Portuguese icon has failed to return to training this week due to 'family reasons' and has told United he wants to leave Old Trafford.
United insist Ronaldo is not for sale and that he remains under contract. It has led to a damaging stand-off between the club and Ronaldo that has become an unwanted distraction for new boss Erik Ten Hag.
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United have the option of fining Ronaldo because he is in effect breaking club rules by not fulfilling his contractual obligations in not going on the tour. To make matters worse Ronaldo's absence from the money-spinning trip will affect ticket and shirt sales, along with attendances, because he has been used as the poster boy of the tour.
But due to the sensitive reasons for him remaining in Lisbon, United CEO Richard Arnold has decided not to sanction the £500,000-a-week superstar. Arnold is said to be "relaxed" about the fact Ronaldo might miss the entire tour – and is more concerned with resolving the striker's immediate future.
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He is expected to hold more talks with Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes in a bid to find a solution to the situation. Ronaldo, 37, wants to join a club in the Champions League that can help him win more trophies – and believes United will not be able to help him fulfil his remaining ambitions at club level.
United will refuse to sell him to Premier League rivals Chelsea, while Napoli and Bayern Munich are also keen on landing the former Real Madrid ace.
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