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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Josh O'Brien

Cristiano Ronaldo's treatment of Erik ten Hag spotted and confirms dressing room shift

As is often the case at the moment, Cristiano Ronaldo was one of the main talking points in the aftermath of Manchester United's humiliating 4-0 defeat away at Brentford.

The 37-year-old struggled to make any impact during the game and was even guilty of giving the ball away in the build-up for the Bee's opening goal. However, it was his frosty moment with new manager Erik ten Hag at full-time that had plenty of people talking after the contest.

As some of the Red Devils players begrudgingly made their way over to the travelling United faithful, Ronaldo headed off the pitch without even looking his boss in the eye - let alone a quick handshake or customary tap on the back.

Fan footage quickly circulated online, with plenty of supporters spotting Ronaldo trudging past Ten Hag who did not look at his talismanic forward once. The moment provided one of the most iconic images of the club's recent dismal chapter, as a man entrusted with United's future blanked a figure many perceive to be United's past.

The Brentford Community Stadium was actually the scene for a Ronaldo temper tantrum last term when he was hooked off before the end by then-interim boss Ralf Rangnick. United were leading the game, but the 37-year-old was still left seething at the decision to replace him.

Ronaldo snatched a jacket from a member of backroom staff only to then throw it to the ground before refusing to take a seat in the dugout and instead watching the remainder of the game sitting on some steps. After the match, Rangnick admitted the response from his player was hardly ideal.

"I don't blame him for that but obviously any manager would wish it shouldn't be too emotional and also in front of the TV cameras I don't think this will be for the benefit of anyone: not to his benefit or teammates," the former RB Leipzig boss claimed.

Cristiano Ronaldo refused to acknowledge the Man United fans or his boss ((Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images))

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At the time, it seemingly kick-started a U-turn in Ronaldo's behaviour and he started to act in a manner that was far more helpful in terms of improving the team's morale. This time around it is a very different story in terms of what this could mean for dressing room spirit.

The Athletic report that the former Real Madrid man has been spotted eating alone inside the Carrington canteen since the rest of the squad returned from their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia.

As well as flying solo in the cafeteria, Ronaldo is also allegedly guilty of flapping his arms around in frustration in training, which only increases the divide between him and the rest of his teammates.

Ten Hag has previously insisted he is excited to work with a "giant" of the game like Ronaldo, but for how much longer the United boss is willing to put up with this saga remains to be seen.

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