EPL: Ronaldo back in Man United training but separated from team-mates

Cristiano Ronaldo is back in training at Manchester United but will be kept separate from most of his team-mates having missed the club’s pre-season tour.

The Portuguese star, who wants to leave Old Trafford this summer, is likely to be put on an individual training programme before being reintegrated into Erik ten Hag’s squad.

Cristiano Ronaldo was back at Manchester United’s training ground on Wednesday and watched his team-mates in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Wrexham

Ronaldo, 37, only returned to Carrington on Tuesday after missing all of United’s pre-season tour to Thailand and Australia.

He underwent medical tests and then trained on Wednesday before watching his team-mates in a behind-closed-doors friendly match against Wrexham.

It was thought this weekend’s double-header of friendlies against Atletico Madrid on Saturday in Oslo and Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford on Sunday may come too soon.

But it’s believed Ronaldo may have an eye on the Rayo Vallecano one, which will feature more of a second string side.

He has been working hard in the gym having been excused from the tour for family reasons.

But as a result, Ronaldo has not been immersed in Ten Hag’s methods ahead of the new season and will have to be reintegrated gradually.

New signings Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen played against National League side Wrexham, with the Dane on the scoresheet. United won the match 4-1.

New manager Erik ten Hag gave a debrief of the pre-season tour to Ronaldo on Tuesday

Ronaldo had swept back into United’s training ground in his £168,000 Bentley on Tuesday morning, sitting alongside his agent Jorge Mendes.

He joined manager Erik ten Hag, as well as Martinez and Eriksen, for a debrief of the pre-season trip he played no part in having been excused on compassionate grounds.

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has described the signing of Ronaldo as ‘impossible’

The situation hasn’t changed, with Ronaldo still wanting to leave United in pursuit of Champions League football this season and the club insisting he is not for sale.

And there was a major blow to Ronaldo’s escape act on Tuesday night when Atletico Madrid’s president Enrique Cerezo ruled out any move for the Portuguese star.

Ronaldo showed off his ripped physique in the gym as he missed United’s pre-season tour

Ronaldo showed off his ripped physique in the gym as he missed United’s pre-season tour

Mendes had been attempting to engineering a move to Atletico after other European heavyweights including Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain turned down the chance to sign him.

But talking to Spanish radio, Cerezo said: ‘I don’t know who invented this story about Cristiano Ronaldo to Atletico Madrid. It’s not true.

‘It’s practically impossible for him to come to Atletico Madrid.’

Ronaldo would have to play catch-up on the training ground to be ready for the new season

Ronaldo has a year left on his £360,000-a-week contract at United, with the option of another year, and is willing to take a pay cut or a loan move to secure his exit.

United’s sixth-place finish in last season’s Premier League means they will only be competing in the Europa League in the campaign ahead.

On Tuesday, Ronaldo stopped briefly to greet former boss Sir Alex Ferguson, whose presence at Carrington sparked speculation he had been drafted in to persuade Ronaldo to stay.

Anthony Martial has impressed in the centre forward position during the pre-season tour

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But Ferguson was at the training ground for a pre-arranged board meeting and lunch with Richard Arnold, the club’s chief executive, and David Gill, the former CEO.

Ronaldo intends to remain professional despite his wish to leave Old Trafford.

United host Brighton and Hove Albion in their opening Premier League fixture on Sunday August 7.

In his absence, a revitalised Anthony Martial, who spent the second half of last season out on loan at Sevilla, impressed in the centre forward position.