Cristiano Ronaldo is a doubt for Saturday’s Manchester Derby after sustaining a back injury from carrying United all season.
The Portuguese superstar hobbled off the pitch after scoring a brace during the Red Devil’s 2-2 draw with Atalanta in the Champions League last night.
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It’s understood the 5-times Champions League winner’s back may have finally given way under the strain of carrying an entire club since September.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed the talismanic forward would miss the crunch game against their cross-city rivals during an interview with Paddy Power News this morning.
‘We’re f**ked’, sobbed the Norwegian.
‘Ronnie’s back’s only gone and bloody buckled after scoring the second goal’.
Manchester United’s Portugese midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring against Inter Milan during their UEFA Champions League second round second leg football match at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England on March 11, 2009. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP via Getty Images)
‘First assessment doesn’t look good. He’ll definitely miss the City annihilation at the weekend’.
Ronaldo also confirmed the injury with a post on Instagram.
The 36-year-old shared a video of teammates Harry Maguire and Paul Pogba being wrestled off his back by first-team coaches Mick Phelan and Michael Carrick.
‘It’s not about the bad back, it’s all about the comeback’, screams Ronaldo as Maguire’s fingers are finally prised open.
Solskjaer also discussed his defensive options ahead of the City game after Raphael Varane joined Victor Lindelöf on the injury list.
‘Eric (Bailly) came through the game unscathed which is the greatest miracle since the resurrection of Jesus’.
‘He’ll start on Saturday unless he dislocates an ankle while putting on his socks’.
‘Jonesy’s came through a couple of U23 games inside a Zorb Ball and is available for selection’.
‘Harry (Maguire) will start every game irrespective of how injured he is or how sh*t he plays. So no change on that one’.
Meanwhile, United have also confirmed they’re pre-emptively awarding Ronaldo the club’s player of the month awards until May.
“No one really expects things to change with Ole here, do they?” a club source said. “Ronnie’ll have to keep performing these miracles. This just saves a lot of hassle.”
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