 and Gio (Ronaldo's partner) – we had one week in hospital because Bella had a big problem. 'And I didn't go to the pre-season because of that. Because I didn't want to leave my family if something happened during pre-season because I think it was not fair to leave my family for pre-season. This is why I didn't go.' According to the Manchester Evening News, however, Ronaldo's camp were grateful for the manner in which the club handled the matter at the time with Erik ten Hag publicly backing the veteran in his absence. 'We are planning for Cristiano Ronaldo for the season and that's it and I'm looking forward to working with him,' ten Hag said in July. 'Cristiano is not for sale, he is in our plans and we want success together. 'I spoke with him before this issue came up, I had a conversation with him and I had a good talk. That is between Cristiano and me, what I can confirm is we had a really good conversation together.' Ronaldo returned for United's final game of pre-season agai){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Manchester United have disputed Cristiano Ronaldo’s version of events after the striker criticised the club over their handling of his summer absence.
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The 37-year-old missed United’s pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia due to personal reasons, with it since it emerging it was due to the health of his young daughter Bella.
In his interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo accused the club of not believing him over his reasons for being away, insisting their was a lack of support from Old Trafford.