Soccer legend and former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, has given reasons Cristiano Ronaldo has not returned for pre-season training at Old Trafford.
Ferdinand claims that a family member of Ronaldo is having health related issues.
The 37-year-old is yet to show up at Carrington ahead of the new season, amid talk he has requested to leave United this summer.
But Ferdinand said: “I’ve been seeing people being a touch disrespectful. The way that people are questioning ‘he’s not here’ and the hysteria surrounding it. A member of his family is not well, so he’s not at training.
“Yeah he might want to leave, he might not be happy with certain things at the football club, but in terms of professionalism, this guy is training where he is – we’ve seen the pictures.
“His family are there, he needs to be where they are and you have to respect that. Simple as. Could it have been communicated better by the club? Probably.”
Manchester United have expressed willingness to sell the forward but only to clubsides outside the EPL.
Recall that Ronaldo has pointed out that he would love to exit Manchester United based on the club’s inability to attract quality players in pre-season.