Cristiano Ronaldo to start the Premier League with United...from the bench?

Cristiano Ronaldo's intention to leave Manchester United has been one of this summer's hot topics. His desire to leave the club after failing to qualify for the next Champions League is marking the last few months of the Portuguese. He did not travel to the team's pre-season in Thailand and Australia, the first half against Rayo Vallecano is all that has been seen of Cristiano this summer with United.

With his future still unresolved, the Premier League kicks off this weekend and Brighton visit Old Trafford on Sunday. They report in the Daily Mail that Cristiano Ronaldo is not part of Erik ten Hag's plans to start in the league opener. Instead, the Dutch coach is looking to reward Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford for their good pre-season with the 'Red Devils'.

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The only option currently on the table for Cristiano to start against Brighton is that Martial has not yet recovered from the hamstring discomfort that caused him to withdraw from the game against Atletico Madrid . However, the Portuguese player's intentions are that he will not be in the squad for the start of the Premier League.

The Dutch coach strongly disagreed with the attitudes of the players (Cristiano was not the only one) who left Old Trafford after half-time of the match against Rayo: "I tell you this, that is unacceptable. We are a team, we are a squad. You have to stay until the end," were Ten Hag's words.

Even Ferguson failed to convince him

Last July 26, Cristiano appeared at Carrington, United's sports facilities, together with Mendes. Sir Alex Ferguson was waiting for him there, hoping that the player would reconsider his position and stay in the team. Nothing of the sort, the Portuguese reaffirmed his intentions to the coach who brought him to the 'Red Devils' in 2003.