Cristiano Ronaldo has featured in Manchester United’s launch for their new home kit despite his demands to leave the club after just one season.
The former Real Madrid and Juventus star is among the list of stars who model the new United kit, although the descriptions under each image are indicative of their current status within the club. 20 of the club’s stars – across their men and women’s teams – are shown by the website to be parading the new kit, with each having an individual caption.
"Scott McTominay looking sharp" declared the picture showing the Scotland international. "Marcus Rashford looks right at home" stated the snap with the homegrown England star. "We can't wait to see Jadon Sancho in our new home shirt," was the comment below the smiling former Borussia Dormtund man. But Ronaldo... well it certainly wasn't as warm. " Cristiano Ronaldo models the long-sleeve jersey." Not much character in that, and certainly not in-keeping with the other 19 Manchester United men and women pictured.
The Portuguese superstar wants an Old Trafford exit due to the club’s failure to secure Champions League football. The 37-year-old returned to United last year, but the return has not worked out as planned as the club finished sixth in the Premier League last season – 11 points off the top five and enduring a miserable campaign.
Ronaldo may have netted 24 goals in all competitions last season in a deeply dysfunctional team but he will celebrate his 38th birthday next season and can limit what United are capable of doing cohesively, alongside being the club’s highest-earning player. He has yet to return to the club’s pre-season training due to ‘family reasons’ and will not jet off with the squad to Bangkok next week.
United insist Ronaldo is not for sale and remain determined to hold him to the final 12 months of his current deal. 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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Furthermore, recorded footage of Ronaldo alongside David Beckham and Eric Cantona – which had been scheduled to be released at the same time as the new kit – has been put on hold by Adidas until the Portuguese’s future at the club is clarified, as first reported by The Athletic.
The kit’s design, with its collar, is partially a nod to Cantona – one of United’s iconic number 7’s which was the inspiration for the video – due to the Frenchman’s habit of turning up his collar during his playing days. However, this filmed footage will have to wait until Ronaldo’s future has greater clarity as United will be wary of strong promotion of a player who may be on the way out of the club.
You can purchase the new Manchester United 2022-23 home shirt here
