Manchester United boss reveals unusual reason for Ronaldo snub (VIDEO)

The football legend didn’t make it off the bench against Manchester City

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag claimed that he left Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench in a 6-3 defeat to crosstown rivals Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday “out of respect for his big career.”

Ronaldo was again overlooked by the Dutchman for one of the Red Devils’ biggest matches of the season so far.

With 10 Champions League titles between them, the Portuguese and former Real Madrid teammate Casemiro were made to watch from the sidelines as their team fell 4-0 behind when Erling Haaland and Phil Foden scored two goals each.

The two youngsters completed their hat-tricks in the second half, but United pulled two goals back through Antony and Anthony Martial.

Ronaldo wasn’t afforded a cameo, however, and was evidently frustrated at being snubbed for the match that finished 6-3 as Martial netted a 91st-minute penalty.

Asked why he had overlooked his star player in a post-match interview, the Dutch manager said Ronaldo didn’t play any part in the loss “out of respect for his big career.”

Erik ten Hag refused to bring on Cristiano Ronaldo in the Manchester derby 'out of respect for his career'