Cristiano Ronaldo's troubled start to the season

David Adán RONALDO Cristiano only has two goals this term and is unhappy at Man Utd ON THE ROCKS

[{"selector":"#anim-e66d9e6e-da5f-47f2-beef-d737e12bc496","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ddbb9225-8157-48d9-abfc-4f068fa07e29 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.287196948382433%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Cristiano Ronaldo has endured a difficult start to the season. He isn’t in the Manchester United team, and is unhappy at Old Trafford.

[{"selector":"#anim-bf7a31a7-d4a7-4940-b8e4-0a35feaf8ade","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab8895b7-8fcb-4235-83b8-f3b4ba34ec00 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.9249143961860966%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] This season, the Portugal captain has only managed two goals and two assists for United: very poor figures for a top striker like him.

[{"selector":"#anim-9d366c0f-1d43-4fce-b967-327bf114fd42","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-21237aa2-bd0a-4377-be7c-1e21be733746 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 5.6668017375774795%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] In the Premier League, Cristiano is averaging 39 minutes per game - not even a full half. Indeed, he’s only started one league match.

[{"selector":"#anim-cf057b77-25ff-4897-b6dc-bea9cfded327","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74cd37ef-91fd-467c-9478-8568e87e94a4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(17.35795434738388%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] The saga over Cristiano’s future continues to bubble away. He’d like to leave United as soon as he can, potentially in January.

[{"selector":"#anim-2581b3e9-90a8-43ca-a2af-05f5981b1dc6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-11502108-1c8a-4ed4-99ab-1ec8dc5ffaa1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.278480753425708%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Erik ten Hag won’t stand in his way. The United boss has taken a tough approach to his management of CR7, relegating him to support-act status.

[{"selector":"#anim-72b176bd-bcaa-4f05-a5e6-aa328317a3df","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1689ad4b-6ccd-4090-8be4-08259c5426c2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 0.028393261772053258%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] If he leaves in the mid-season window, Cristiano could get the Champions League return he’s angling for - but a suitable offer would have to come in.

[{"selector":"#anim-e7fe78d5-cbc9-4dd1-81aa-3bfdd7942bbf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-12770132-4bba-4ec1-8876-b82c21550170 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(20.34090891093888%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Given Lionel Messi’s good start to the season, the Portuguese should be worried. Messi is now just 13 short of his Champions League goals record.

[{"selector":"#anim-12c82086-d062-4c43-9255-b374d4e491b0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.53844%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-724052d4-6796-4702-9156-2f6b4f99263f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-9.192117296486435%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] On Sunday, Cristiano brought up 700 career club goals, and thanked all his coaches and team-mates for their role in reaching the milestone.

[{"selector":"#anim-e5f97dba-a8b7-4e00-a6cc-567f9e29fb32","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.30265%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-227e9f58-277f-4279-9ef8-6ba379df57c2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 2.259621255043034%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] On top of his 144 goals for United, the 37-year-old scored 450 times for Real Madrid, 101 for Juventus and five for first club Sporting CP.

[{"selector":"#anim-7c21a8d1-7a94-4a37-8ba6-ff633f3e3eb6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.53844%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-080005db-220a-4272-b05b-c431e2c4048c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(5.44554428410074%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] The greatest goalscorer in history is in the doldrums, but there can be no doubting his ability. How many more years will he remain in the elite?

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