Manchester United ‘feel Cristiano Ronaldo’s criticism of their handling of his pre-season tour absence is unfair’ after the Portuguese star claimed the club ‘didn’t believe’ his baby daughter was ill.
The 37-year-old missed United’s trip to Thailand and Australia after his daughter was hospitalised with bronchitis in July.
But in his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo sensationally accused United of doubting she was unwell after he returned late for training.
United have also reportedly been left perplexed by Ronaldo’s criticism of the training facilities at Carrington, where the dining room area and swimming pool have recently been refurbished.
In his interview, which is being released in full on Wednesday and Thursday, Ronaldo said: ‘I spoke with the directors and president of Manchester United and they kind of didn’t believe that something was going wrong which made me feel bad.
‘They believed it but it’s something that really hurt me because they doubted my words.
‘We had one week in hospital because Bella had big problems and I didn’t go to the pre-season because of that.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s comments to Piers Morgan about Manchester United doubting his baby daughter was unwell in hospital during pre-season have been refuted by club officials
Ronaldo says United chiefs ‘didn’t believe something was going wrong’ when he told them
Ronaldo and partner Georgina Rodriguez tragically revealed their newborn son had died during birth on April 13, and three months later his twin daughter was also hospitalised
‘Because I wasn’t going to leave my family if something happened to do a pre-season because I didn’t think it was fair to leave my family.
‘This is why I didn’t go.’
But, according to the Manchester Evening News, United officials refute Ronaldo’s comments and say they did show compassion at the time.
The Portugal captain and partner Georgina Rodriguez, 28, revealed that their newborn son had died during birth on April 18, but his twin daughter Bella survived.
Tributes flooded in from the footballing world after the couple shared their heartbreaking news, including from United’s arch-rivals Liverpool, who broke into a rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone following a minute’s applause.
Rodriguez pictured heading on a family holiday back in the summer, holding daughter Bella
Ronaldo revealed he keeps his son’s ashes close to his father’s in a chapel at his home
Ronaldo and Rodriguez also received a…