Many were left surprised by Cristiano Ronaldo’s response to being substituted in Wednesday night’s win over Brentford. The Manchester United forward threw his coat to the ground and uttered words of frustration before opting to sit on a step in the dugout.
The small outburst did little to take the shine off what was a strong 3-1 away victory for the Reds, but it did represent an act of frustration from Ronaldo, who isn’t accustomed to being seen as dispensable on the pitch.
Ralf Rangnick was quick to play down the 36-year-old’s response, stating it was “normal”, and it’s not thought to be part of any wider issue between both the player and manager.
Despite this, as we manoeuvre through the second half of the season and towards the summer transfer window, it’s likely that identifying a replacement for not only Ronaldo but also Edinson Cavani will grow in importance.
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