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Cristiano Ronaldo posted a curiously-timed training photo just as the Champions League group stage draw came to a close on Thursday.
The Manchester United forward captioned his post on Twitter ‘ Keep working and focused ’ just as the 32 teams learned their fate for Europe’s premier club competition, which likely won’t have Ronaldo in it.
It appears the Champions League will be without its all-time top scorer for the first time since 2003 after United failed to land a top four spot last season.
The Red Devils recorded their worst ever Premier League campaign last season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, finishing sixth in the table despite Ronaldo’s grand return.
That wasn’t for the want of trying from the 37-year-old superstar, though, with Ronaldo scoring 24 goals in all competitions, 14 more than his closest teammate.
Six of those efforts came during heroic performances in Europe, where Ronaldo extended his record as the competition’s top scorer with a gigantic 140 goals in 183 games, 15 ahead of rival Lionel Messi.
But as things stand, Messi will be able to creep up on his fellow all-time great, with Paris Saint-Germain in this year’s tournament, and Man United not.
The disappointment of United not making the top four last season has been followed by a summer of speculation surrounding Ronaldo, and it hasn’t finished yet.
Multiple reports claimed his agent, Jorge Mendes, held talks with both Chelsea and Bayern Munich in order to facilitate a return to the Champions League.
French side Marseille are the latest Champions League team to be linked with the forward after a move to Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund was ruled out.
Ronaldo’s first-ever team, Sporting CP, are another option amongst the 32, and are the bookies’ current favourites to land the superstar if he doesn’t stay at United.
Ronaldo and Man United learned their fate for this season’s Europa League on Friday, being drawn with Real Sociedad, FC Sheriff and Omonia Nicosia in Group E.
But Ronaldo’s message poses even more questions after he was benched for United’s sensational 2-1 win over rivals Liverpool .
He may not return to the fold any time soon after him and Harry Maguire being dropped was followed by United’s best performance of the season, so maybe ‘Keep working and focused’ is just a message to agent Mendes.
It is said, United manager Erik ten Hag told Ronaldo and Maguire they would not play against Liverpool in front of the whole squad in a clear the air talk.
The Sun write that Ten Hag called the players in on Thursday to lay down the law in an effort to turn things around.
Ronaldo did not speak, but teammates were allowed to air grievances about a number of issues.
It worked and it is said training has also jumped up a level.
United take on Southampton this lunchtime , live on talkSPORT, and Ronaldo is among the subs yet again.
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