Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Matthew Hobkinson

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo back in Portugal training ahead of World Cup opener

Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been pictured back in training ahead of Portugal's World Cup opener against Ghana, after the 37-year-old was absent from his side's warm-up fixture with Nigeria.

Ronaldo unleashed a scathing critique of almost every aspect of his current side. In a Piers Morgan Uncensored interview that aired on Wednesday and Thursday night, the United star made wild accusations that threaten to tarnish his legacy at Old Trafford.

The club are now considering action that could include sacking Ronaldo for a possible breach of contract in the wake of his remarks. United released a statement on Friday saying that they have "initiated appropriate steps" following the conclusion of Ronaldo's interview with Morgan.

ALSO READ: How Portugal squad reacted to Ronaldo interview

The former Real Madrid man claimed he had "no respect" for Erik ten Hag, while also criticising his former teammates and the current generation of youth players in a wide-ranging string of scathing statements.

Ronaldo has since turned his attention to helping his Portugal team win the World Cup, but has had a bumpy start to the campaign since landing in Qatar. He missed Portugal’s 4-0 warm-up win over Nigeria on Thursday with gastroenteritis, prompting fears over whether the five-time Ballon d'Or star will be able to recover in time for their first match against Ghana on November 24.

However, Ronaldo was pictured back in training with his compatriots on Saturday, as he cast a relaxed figure, laughing and joking with some of his teammates. Fellow United players Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot will be lining up alongside the Reds' No. 7, as they look to put the controversy to one side and focus on going as far as they can during the tournament.

Ronaldo was all smiles as he returned to training with the rest of the Portugal squad (AFP via Getty Images)

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.