Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to Manchester United training after being omitted from the match against Chelsea.
Erik ten Hag rested the 37-year-old for Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge after Ronaldo headed down the tunnel and left Old Trafford before his team’s 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.
The former Ajax manager rested the five-time Ballon d’Or winner for the trip to west London, and Ronaldo’s reintegration into the United team was contingent on the outcome of talks between United’s number seven and the Dutchman.
Judging by Ronaldo’s appearance in first-team training at Carrington alongside his teammates, Ten Hag must have been happy with how the conversation between the two played out.
Ten Hag and Ronaldo have been in “constant dialogue” since the decision to release him from Chelsea, according to ESPN reporter Rob Dawson.
The former Juventus man is now in contention to play in Thursday’s Europa League Group E clash at the Theatre of Dreams against Sheriff Tiraspol.
In addition to Portugal’s captain returning to the first team, Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Donny van de Beek were all seen taking part in the training session ahead of the game against Moldova’s league leaders.
Since coming off the bench against Liverpool at the end of August, Wan-Bissaka and Van de Beek have not played.
Whereas United’s captain hasn’t played since picking up a thigh injury for England against Germany in last month’s UEFA Nations League games.
With Raphael Varane picking up a knee injury which means he looks set not to feature for United again before the World Cup, Maguire will be challenging Victor Lindelof to play alongside Argentine Lisandro Martinez in the heart of United’s defense.
Ronaldo scored his first goal of the season from the penalty spot in United’s 2-0 win against Sheriff in Chisinau last month.
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