“Sunday, the king plays” – Cristiano Ronaldo confirms Manchester United’s return date after failing to secure a move to any Champions League club

Cristiano Ronaldo appears to have confirmed his return to Manchester United for Sunday’s friendly against Rayo Vallecano. The Portugal international has yet to play in pre-season, despite widespread speculation that he is looking to leave Old Trafford less than a year after returning.

Ronaldo’s future was cast further into doubt when he was not named to United’s 21-man travelling party for Saturday’s game against Atletico Madrid in Oslo.

However, in response to a tweet from a United fan page announcing that he would not be playing in either of the club’s friendlies this weekend, Ronaldo responded, “Sunday, the king plays.”

If Ronaldo plays against Rayo, it will be his first appearance for United since a 4-0 loss to Brighton and Hove Albion on May 7. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner missed the Red Devils’ final game of last season due to injury and was not present for the team’s four friendlies in Thailand and Australia.

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Cristiano Ronaldo hits back at media over ‘false accusations everyday’

Ronaldo was back at United’s Carrington training complex this week for talks, but widespread reports suggest he is still looking for a move to a Champions League team.

He scored 18 Premier League goals last season, second only to Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min (both 23), but United finished sixth with their lowest ever points total. Ronaldo scored 14 more goals in all competitions in 2021-22 than the next-best player, Bruno Fernandes, with no other United player reaching double figures in a disastrous season.

On Friday, Ronaldo was particularly active on social media, having previously responded to a post claiming that his agent, Jorge Mendes, had met with United’s hierarchy.

“Impossible not to talk about me [for] one day, Otherwise the press makes no money. You know that if you don’t lie, you can’t get people’s attention. Keep going that one day you [get] some news right,” he wrote on social media.

Read More: “Does he know he doesn’t get paid his full wages if they want rid of him?”- Manchester United legend Gary Neville takes another dig at Barcelona over Jules Kounde’s transfer

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