Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo paid dearly - literally and figuratively - for his demarche during the English Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur.
Approximately half a minute before the end of normal time, the 37-year-old footballer, who never entered the field, left the bench and went to the tribune room.
Moreover, according to The Athletic, Cristiano did not linger in the locker room, but simply left the stadium.
He did not take part in the general celebration of an important victory over the Londoners.
At first glance, the footballer was dissatisfied with the fact that he was left without playing time, however, as it turned out later, at the end of the meeting, the hosts' mentor Eric ten Hag was going to release him as a substitute, but the Portuguese refused.
At the end of the match, the Dutch specialist did not comment on the behavior of Ronaldo, noting only that the conversation with him would be held later.
As a result, a rather harsh reaction followed from the side of the club.
Manchester United announced that the Portuguese will not play in the match of the 13th round of the Premier League with Chelsea.
Moreover, according to the British media, he was suspended from training with the main team and fined a substantial amount of £720,000 (more than €820,000).
Ten Hag did not disclose the details of the conversation with Cristiano, but at the same time assured that the Portuguese remains an important performer for the Mancunians.
This, however, contradicts insider information, according to which the Red Devils mentor is ready to release the star in the winter transfer window if there are those who want to buy him.
This is also what some team players want, who are tired of the tense atmosphere created by a star colleague.
In the meantime, the Dutchman is forced to somehow cope with the emotional antics of the five-time winner of the Golden Ball.
According to ten Hag, as head coach, he is responsible for the sports culture at Manchester United, sets standards, defines values and monitors adherence to them.
He recalled that in the offseason, the Portuguese had already allowed himself a similar trick - he left the stadium without waiting for the end of the friendly match with Rayo Vallecano.
“Then I told Ronaldo that it was unacceptable to leave the match.
And this applies to everyone.
When this happens a second time, there will be consequences.
I think Cristiano will have time to think about everything.
This also applies to others.
I warned the players at the beginning of the season that next time there would be consequences.
Football is a team sport, the player must meet certain standards, and I am responsible for this, ”the Manchester Evening News quotes ten Hag.
The coach also stressed that he would like to focus on preparing for an important meeting with Chelsea, and not be distracted by resolving issues with Ronaldo.
On Friday, Cristiano arrived at the Manchester United base at the same time as the club youth, and some media reported that the player would train with her.
However, it later turned out that Ronaldo did not join his young colleagues, but held an individual lesson.
The day before, the Portuguese published a post in one of the social networks, in which he tried to explain his act.
Cristiano told how, as a young footballer, he studied with older and more experienced comrades, and later he himself tried to be a worthy example for young people.
“As has always been the case throughout my career, I try to live and play with respect for my colleagues, opponents and coaches.
Nothing changed.
I haven't changed.
I am the same person and the same professional that I have been for the last 20 years of playing football at the highest level, and respect has always been a very important point for me when making decisions, ”the player wrote.
However, sometimes, according to him, the intensity of passions takes over him.
In the current situation, he needs to continue to work hard, support his teammates and be ready for anything in any game, the forward added.
“Giving up under pressure is not an option.
And never was.
This is Manchester United, and there is strength in unity.
Soon we will be together again, ”concluded Ronaldo.
Meanwhile, the football community was divided in their attitude towards the Portuguese deed.
One part is sure of the inadmissibility of such behavior, and the other considers ten Hag responsible for what happened, including, since he allegedly does not show respect for the player, corresponding to his merits.
So, Gabriel Agbonlahor called Ronaldo a "spoiled boy" and stressed that success in the past does not guarantee him a place in the team.
Moreover, according to the British footballer, Manchester United is now playing much better without the Portuguese, whose best years are behind him.
“I respect ten Hag for not giving in to pressure, not feeling that he is obliged to release Ronaldo.
But to go into the locker room like this, in my opinion, is a shame.
You can not do it this way.
This is very disrespectful towards your comrades.
And if I were a player who ended up in the locker room with Ronaldo after this, I would like my coach to clearly indicate his position, ”said the former striker.
Former Leeds coach Neil Warnock noted that with his trick Ronaldo untied the hands of ten Hagu, because now sympathy is on his side, and any decision of the specialist will be approved.
“If it wasn’t about Ronaldo, I would be inclined to say: ‘He should leave in January, can we get rid of him now?
Warnock said.
- It plays into the hands of the coach, but I would not talk to him.
I would praise the guys and then casually throw Ronaldo: “And I expect to see you tomorrow at 10 am” to ruin his day off.
And the former French football player Jerome Rothen, on the contrary, sided with Cristiano in this story.
In his opinion, the Manchester United mentor marinates the Portuguese on the bench for too long and treats him in the same way as any other ward.
“It's not just some player.
To treat Ronaldo like that is a scandal.
If you do not want to see him in the team, then you should say so.
There are many things to consider when working with such a player.
If you want to kick him out, then agree to terminate the contract and tell him at the start of the season: “We are not counting on you.”
But you can not create such a situation around him as during the last matches.
He should not go through this, ”Roten emphasized.
It is not yet known how long the removal of Ronaldo from the base will last.
According to some reports, he will return to training in the general group on Monday, and may even be included in the application for the Europa League match with Sheriff.
The final decision in this situation remains with ten Hag.