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Cristiano Ronaldo poised to miss first day of Manchester United training

<span>Photograph: Ian Walton/Reuters</span>
Photograph: Ian Walton/Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo is not expected to return to Manchester United training on Monday after the club accepted his explanation that family reasons would prevent him for coming back as scheduled.

Ronaldo wants to leave United after growing frustrated at what he sees as a lack of ambition in their summer transfer dealings and concluding they cannot win the Premier League. The 37-year-old also wants to play in the Champions League.

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Ronaldo is due back on Monday with all the other players who were involved in international matches after the Premier League season ended. The rest of the squad returned at the start of last week. Ronaldo has one year left on his contract and United insist he is not for sale.

United are close to their first signing of the Erik ten Hag era, with Tyrell Malacia at their Carrington base on Monday morning for the second part of his medical. The Netherlands left-back should then join from Feyenoord for €15m (£12.9m) plus €2m in add-ons.