Cristiano Ronaldo misses tour to get fit for Manchester United
By Simon Mullock 29/06/2008
(What's this?)Cristiano Ronaldo will be left behind when Manchester United go on their pre-season tour to Africa.
United are so confident of keeping Ronaldo out of the clutches of Real Madrid that they have decided to extend the winger's summer break by a further four days following his efforts at Euro 2008.
United insist Ronaldo's extended break is designed to help him to avoid an operation to cure a nagging ankle injury and has nothing to do with Madrid's persistence in trying to entice the 23-year-old to the Bernabeu.
Ronaldo was expected to undergo surgery immediately after Portugal's quarter-final exit at the hands of Germany so that he could begin pre-season training on July 9 - exactly three weeks after his last game.
Instead, he went on holiday with the club's blessing and has been told not to report back until July 14 - two days before United jet off on their tour of South Africa and Nigeria.
Rather than take Ronaldo on tour in a bid to convince him his long-term future remains with United, Ferguson will allow him to stay home to begin pre-season training.
A United source said: "The decision has been taken because the manager wants to ensure Cristiano is fit for the start of the Premier League and doesn't suffer burn-out." Manager Sir Alex Ferguson and chief executive David Gill return to work from holiday tomorrow insisting it is business as usual at Old Trafford.
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