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Cristiano Ronaldo during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St James' Park, Newcastle, December 2021.

Watch: Man Utd’s Cristiano Ronaldo berates ref & signals he needs specs

Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo was absolutely furious with the referee after his side conceded the first goal of the Champions League last-16 second leg against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, even suggesting the official might need glasses.

Manchester United went into the game against Atleti in high spirits but full of tension.

Though they had beaten Tottenham 3-2 on Saturday to keep their top-four charge alive – with talisman Ronaldo scoring all three of their goals – the Champions League game had a huge amount riding on it.

With United out of the FA Cup and long since out of the running in the Premier League title race, the Champions league represented the last hope of the Red Devils rescuing something from their season.

Fortunately, Ronaldo was coming into the game in form. His treble against Spurs took him onto 807 career goals and made him the highest scorer in the history of men’s senior football.

In his programme notes, United manager Ralf Rangnick wrote: “I would like to congratulate Cristiano for becoming the all-time leading scorer in world football.

“He has now scored 807 goals and I’m certain he will keep adding to that total over coming weeks and months – hopefully including tonight.”

Early on in the game on Tuesday night, Ronaldo showed he was up for the occasion. His first involvement, with less than a minute gone, involved some brilliantly confident keepy-uppies near the touchline.

But things took a turn for worse from the United perspective late in the first half.

With four minutes to go until the break, Atletico wing-back Renan Lodi latched onto an Antoine Griezmann cross at the back post to head beyond David de Gea and put Atleti ahead – 1-0 on the night and 2-1 in the tie.

After the ball hit the net, Manchester United players protested about a percevied foul on Anthony Elanga in the build-up that the referee had not given – and Ronaldo was particularly irate.

He bawled at the referee made the world-famous glasses signal with the thumb and index finger of each hand, suggesting the officials’ vision of the incident was not quite as clear as it might have been.

It was to no avail. After a quick VAR check, the referee’s decision stood and so did the goal.

 


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