Cristiano Ronaldo was left out of Erik ten Hag's first Premier League starting eleven as manager of Manchester United and he was not best pleased.
The 37-year-old has been linked with an exit all summer after making it clear to the Red Devils hierarchy he wants to join a club that is more suited to his lofty ambitions. To make matters worse, Ronaldo returned back to the club for pre-season later than expected and as a result has only played 45 minutes of football before the season's start.
That came against Rayo Vallecano last weekend, though even that game was not without some Ronaldo controversy after he left for home long before the full-time whistle. As a result, he was not selected to start against Brighton for the opening game of the league season.
His face certainly told a story as he was pictured looking particularly fed-up as his new manager watched on. United started the game slowly before things got worse on the half-hour mark.
Seagulls star Pascal Gross converted after the ball flashed across the face of United's goal to put the visitors one goal to the good. Graham Potter's side doubled their advantage nine minutes later and it was the same man behind the goal to bag his brace.
Gross prodded home from close range after David de Gea could only palm Adam Lallana's shot back into danger. The second strike sparked wild celebrations in the Old Trafford away end, while both Ronaldo and Ten Hag cut frustrated figures in the home dug-out.
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Between Brighton's second goal and the half-time whistle, Ten Hag ordered Ronaldo go out onto the touchline and warm-up as he looks set to be introduced to try and salvage United like he has so many times before.
The script is certainly written for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to turn things around for the team he so desperately wants to leave, with the forward line on the pitch failing to make any kind of impact during the first 45 minutes.
It has not taken long for all the good feeling of the new managerial appointment to drain from the red half of Manchester.
