Man United stars left 'surprised' by how Cristiano Ronaldo ditched them on derby day to fly to Portugal, as his sister supports a post claiming he's NOT injured - after Roy Keane said 'it doesn't add up'

Manchester United's dressing room was reportedly left surprised by Cristiano Ronaldo's decision to fly Portugal instead of staying to support the squad for their clash against Manchester City.

A hip flexor injury saw the 37-year-old ruled out of Sunday's Manchester showdown and according to The Athletic, Ronaldo flew to his homeland on Sunday before kick-off at The Etihad stadium.

And the publication adds that figures in the United squad were surprised and felt his presence around the matchday squad would have been beneficial.



Both managers have no doubt Manchester City deserved victory in their local derby.

It comes in the wake of claims from Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane that there was more to Ronaldo's absence than just injury. Those suspicions were fuelled further by Ronaldo's sister Katia liking a post on Instagram saying that he wasn't injured.

The post, from a Ronaldo fan account which is followed by the man himself, emerged on Sunday prior to kick-off and said: 'Cristiano Ronaldo is not injured and is not sick. The man is 100%.

Good morning to you who, like me, are sad and angry because Rangnick decided to ruin our Sunday by taking CR7 out of the derby against Manchester City simply for tactical reasons, to defend himself more in the game.’

Manchester United players were reportedly surprised that Cristiano Ronaldo - pictured in training last Wednesday - flew to Portugal instead of staying to watch the team face Man City

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Manchester United players were reportedly surprised that Cristiano Ronaldo - pictured in training last Wednesday - flew to Portugal instead of staying to watch the team face Man City
United were swept aside by their rivals, slumping to a 4-1 defeat against Manchester City

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United were swept aside by their rivals, slumping to a 4-1 defeat against Manchester City
Ronaldo was ruled out with a hip flexor issue and was back in Portugal by Sunday's kick-off

Without Ronaldo, United were swept aside by their neighbours and Premier League leaders City in a merciless display by Pep Guardiola's side.

Two goals apiece from Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez saw City wrap up all three points. Jadon Sancho equalised for United in the first half but it was the closest United got to laying a glove on their rivals.

Sky Sports pundit Keane was unimpressed with his former United team-mate missing the City match with the issue.

When asked if there was something more to Ronaldo's absence on Sky Sports, he said: 'There seems to be.

'I just don’t like it when the manager (Ralf Rangnick) talks about this hip flexor, I don’t get it.

'We talk about Ronaldo being some sort of machine, he's very rarely injured and then every now and again he comes out with something like that and says hip flexor. It doesn’t add up to me.'

United have no midweek match and face Tottenham next in Saturday's late kick-off before the return Champions League leg against Atletico Madrid.

It means Ronaldo has a week to return to fitness and recover from an issue that has hampered him already this season.

Ronaldo has scored 15 goals in 30 appearances so far for United this season.

United's defeat leaves them fifth in the Premier League standings and a point behind Arsenal in fourth.

The Gunners, however, have three games in hand on United and a serious opportunity to cement their position in the Champions League places over the coming weeks.


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10585023/United-squad-surprised-Ronaldo-flew-Portugal-instead-staying-team-Man-City-clash.html&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiY7YCh6rP2AhXtzoUKHTpUBSoQ0PADegQIARAH&usg=AOvVaw0KhzEkFlKuyXkHfVqsD1xh

Someone that can't do anything against Man City on the field, what would you have expected him to do from the stands?

Baba use style ghost the match...
Baba no won make small boys dribble the remaining skill e get out of his life... lolzzz lalasticlala is disappointed... this post wont make fp

If the guy play, them go talk say na because e no fit press nai make them loose.. him no dey now, them dey complain..
Why be say complain must follow anything wey this guy do?

Wetin concern Agbero with overload


Make Manchester sell Ronaldo , use the a quarter of the money to buy OBASANJO


Obasanjo is a goal machine

Baba is already planning to japa, that's exactly how it happened in Turin. Before the second week of next month, baba will be moving his cars out of Manchester.

I believe Mendez is already looking for a new club for Cristiano. Man United may not likely make top four and unless serious miracle happens, they won't lift the UCL.

I already knew he wasn't injured, we all know rangnick would go all defense with fast counter as his game plan n he needs fast attackers dt can attack n defense with ease n pace, sancho n elanga was his best option..
when I heard he wasn't playing I was even thinking dt the defensive united would be more difficult for city bt the reverse was d case...
assuming cr7 was on d pitch or in d stands, nothing would change n d scoreline may be more
Wat's d noise about a striker with just one goal in 2020 dt couldn't score against Watford dt av lost 18 games n conceded in all their games except man.u...na city e wan score? abi e no play first leg?
don't worry, e would be back against spurs n athletico n fly out again wen dey meet Liverpool in EPL bcoz na anoda massacre..

CatANDratTHEORY:
Baba is already planning to japa, that's exactly how it happened in Turin. Before the second week of next month, baba will be moving his cars out of Manchester.

I believe Mendez is already looking for a new club for Cristiano. Man United may not likely make top four and unless serious miracle happens, they won't lift the UCL.

swears man....same tin happened in Juve n dey said he needs "new challenge" in EPL bt i jus shock say dis new challenge na jus 1 season o...
Mendez don already dey make calls n beg big boys to take him for free as usual n it seems na dt mumu PSG go enter e trap dis time as mbappe wan leave but i pray make neyma n messi no gree..

thesicilian:
Someone that can't do anything against Man City on the field, what would you have expected him to do from the stands?

at least watch d massacre from d stands and see beautiful football, jokes apart, it's very disrespectful for him to fly out to Portugal d same day his team is playing a big game..
a big disrespect to the team DTS paying for his services o, d worst b say na him be the highest earner for EPL....e no make sense

silverlinen:
If the guy play, them go talk say na because e no fit press nai make them loose.. him no dey now, them dey complain..
Why be say complain must follow anything wey this guy do?

so e make sense say e fly out to Portugal on d same day his guys had a big game?
na better thing say e sister like a page dt said he is 100% n not injured?
if na neyma do all this for paris, una go blast am say e too dey show himself..