Ronaldo came off the bench for the third consecutive game as United won 1-0 at Leicester.
Erik ten Hag is ready to act as both friend and teacher to Cristiano Ronaldo after the Manchester United star’s future was finally put on hold as the summer transfer window ends.
The 37-year-old had been keen to call time on his second spell at Old Trafford less than a year after returning from Juventus following a disappointing season for a club he has won medals aplenty with.
Ten Hag and the club repeatedly said throughout the summer that Ronaldo would be staying put and, despite speculation continuing right up until Thursday’s transfer deadline, so it proved.
Ronaldo was at the King Power Stadium on Thursday rather than completing a move to a Champions League side. He came off the bench for the third consecutive game as United won 1-0 at Leicester.
“(He stayed), as we said,” Ten Hag said. “It’s really early in the season and we have a squad and we have more than starting 11 players and that is what you see now.
“Players who are now on the bench can play in one, two or three weeks.”
Ronaldo missed the pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia due to a family issue, with his only minutes being the first half of the friendly against Rayo Vallecano.
“I will be his friend, sometimes I will be his teacher,” he said. “It depends on the situation.
“But, as we all know, he didn’t have the pre-season and you cannot miss the pre-season.
“It is a base, especially in the game we play, the way of play. We play another type in comparison with last year.
“It depends on the demands, cooperation and it demands certain positioning, in and out of position, and the other thing is fitness.”
Ronaldo’s long-time Real Madrid team-mate Casemiro could make his first United start on Sunday, when Antony will hope to make his bow after completing his big-money deadline-day move from Ajax.
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