Cristiano Ronaldo causes confusion after missing Man Utd win due to injury

Cristiano Ronaldo has caused confusion at Manchester United fan base after missing their FA Cup clash on Monday.

The Red Devils ran out 1-0 winners when Aston Villa came to Old Trafford, thanks to Scott McTominay's early winner.

Ronaldo was not included in the matchday squad, nursing what is believed to be minor hip problem.

United's interim manager Ralf Rangnick declared: "I spoke with Cristiano yesterday before training, he told me that he's had some problems for the last couple of days," Rangnick said pre-match.

"Minor problems, but in the end, we decided that it made more sense to not take any risks in a game that could easily last 120 minutes, so we just decided to rest him, not play him at all."

However, supporters were not expecting to see Ronaldo post an image of himself on social media on Tuesday morning in the sun and beside a lake, a move which has led to confusion over his whereabouts.

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Ronaldo could simply be back home in Portugal seeing family, as United will likely not be training fully until Wednesday, or be posting an old image.

Rangnick 's side will face Villa again this weekend, this time away from home in the Premier League, and Rangnick will hope to have the Portuguese superstar back available.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo has been told by talkSPORT pundit and former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan that he is having a bad influence on the younger, "impressionable" United players, with Marcus Rashford coming in for criticism of late.

"You've got the top player at the club in Ronaldo who doesn't wanna do things a certain way, doesn't wanna press," Jordan said on air.

"What do you think Rashford's gonna do? You imitate what you see.

"When you see a role model like Ronaldo that bolts down the tunnel, doesn't wanna get engaged, unhappy about certain things, then you're gonna see young players that are impressionable - that aren't the full package - [do that].

"By the way, Rashford's been built up to the level that he isn't at anyway.

"The expectation on Rashford is probably unrealistic."

Since Rangnick's appointment as interim manager, Ronaldo has been relatively quiet other than a New Year's message.

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"I'm not happy with what we are achieving in Man. United," the ex- Real Madrid and Juventus forward wrote on Instagram.

"None of us are happy, I'm sure of that. We know that we have to work harder, play better and deliver way more than we are delivering right now.

"Let's make this New Year's Eve a turning point of the season! Let's embrace 2022 with a higher spirit and a stronger mentality.

"Let's take us above and beyond, let's reach for the stars and put this club right where it belongs! Join us, we're counting on all of you!"