Football megastar Cristiano Ronaldo will not be travelling to Perth with his Manchester United teammates for a blockbuster weekend of the beautfiul game at Optus Stadium.
The club confirmed Ronaldo would not join the team on today’s flight to Australia via Thailand. They also said he hadn’t reported for pre-season training and had been granted leave.
“Cristiano Ronaldo will not be part of the Manchester United party scheduled to depart for our pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia on Friday,” a Manchester United spokesperson said.
“He has been granted additional time off to deal with a family issue.”
The Portugal star and his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez lost their newborn son in April.
Ronaldo’s grandparents, Jose Vivieros and Maria-Angela Spinola, live in WA after moving here about 20 years ago from Funchal in Madeira.
The Red Devils last visited Perth in 2019 when they faced our local Perth Glory, beating them 2-0 in front of 50,206 fans before making easy work of Leeds United 4-0 in front of 55,274 fans.
Manchester United will be joined by Leeds United, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace for the two-night International Festival of Football.
United face Aston Villa at Optus Stadium on Friday July 23, with Crystal Palace and Leeds United to play the day before.
They are also set to play rivals Liverpool in Bangkok before landing in WA.
