Erik ten Hag has no doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo can fit into his Manchester United side but he must get back to full match fitness first.
Ronaldo had a disrupted pre-season as he didn't travel with the rest of Ten Hag's squad on their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia due to family reasons. Instead, he remained in Portugal and trained alone.
In Ronaldo's absence, Anthony Martial stepped up to lead the line and the Frenchman put in several impressive displays as he looked to bounce back from his disastrous last campaign at United and Sevilla. He scored three times and looks to have secured his spot as the spearhead of the attack for the start of the season.
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Ronaldo did return to United training last week and made his first appearance under the new manager in Sunday's final pre-season friendly with Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford, playing the opening 45 minutes of the 1-1 draw before then leaving Old Trafford before the final whistle. Ten Hag believes there is certainly a place for him in the side but he will need to earn it.
"I think he can," he told Sky Sports. "But to start with he has to get fit, he's just started. He is a fantastic football player, he proved it so many times, but you can always be judged on what you are now, what you are presenting now, performing now.
"So the team and Cristiano himself have to prove it."
Ronaldo's summer was made even more tumultuous as he made his desire to leave the club public prior to the side's departure for Thailand. A lack of Champions League football, a slow start to the transfer market and an enforced 25 per cent pay cut enforced on the squad after failing to qualify for Europe's top competition fuelled his wish to leave. However, United have maintained he's not for sale and no suitors have come forward yet.
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