Photo: Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images
Cristiano Ronaldois set to return for Manchester United for Saturday’s Premier League matchup against Arsenal just days after thedeath of his newborn son.
On Friday, Manchester United’s interim manager Ralf Rangnick announced at a press conference that the Portuguese striker, 37, would be traveling to the game with the team.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is available again; he has been training with us,” Rangnick told reporters.
The soccer star was also photographed arriving at the team’s facilities on Wednesday and participated in a full training session, according to theManchester Evening News.
Ronaldomissed the team’s gameTuesday evening at Anfield stadium in Merseyside, England, where Manchester United fell 4-0 to Liverpool.
In his absence, the club announced that “a fan-led minute’s applause [would] be held in the seventh minute of the game in a tribute to Ronaldo and his partner Georgina.”
And in the seventh minute of the game, in honor of Ronaldo’s Jersey number, fans of both Manchester United and Liverpool F.C. took 60 seconds to pay tribute to the mourning father, with Liverpool fans singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musicalCarousel, which has become an anthem for the squad.
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On Thursday, Ronaldothanked the fans at Anfield stadiumfor their tribute to his family.
“One world… One sport… One global family… Thanks, Anfield. Me and my family will never forget this moment of respect and compassion. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram alongside a video of the minute-long applause at the game.
The athlete first shared theheartbreaking newsabout the death of their son with aposton social media on Monday.
Cristiano Ronaldo/instagram
In the wake of the tragedy,soccer clubs and players sent heartfelt condolencesto the couple.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Georgina and the whole family during this time,” echoed Juventus, whom the forward played for from 2018 to 2021.
source: people.com
