Diminished and now dropped, Cristiano Ronaldo’s time at Manchester United is all but over

Ronaldo’s latest act of petulance and the news the 37-year-old has been banished from the United squad spells a messy end to a regrettable reunion, writes Richard Jolly

There is doubt over whether Cristiano Ronaldo will play for United again after he was punished by Erik ten Hag (AFP via Getty Images)

The fixture should have some resonance for Cristiano Ronaldo. He has scored four goals in Champions League finals but the first was for Manchester United against Chelsea. Saturday’s game could have transported him back to his past. It might have even been the Ronaldo derby. Had Todd Boehly got his wish in the summer, he could be leading the line for Chelsea.

Instead, he will be conspicuous by his absence, dropped from the United squad. Having absented himself for the final minutes against Tottenham on Wednesday, Erik ten Hag has made his exclusion a lengthier affair. Demoted then disciplined, Ronaldo has presented Ten Hag with more problems than defences this season. Now a suspension of sorts sets the stage for a more permanent parting.

It has become one of the worst weeks of one of the great careers. He has been reduced to displays of dissent, losing a power struggle with a manager who has placed less weight on Ronaldo’s stature or statistics, on his past or his profile.