It was the big question Erik ten Hag knew he would have to face in Bangkok and the new Manchester United manager was ready with an emphatic answer at the Rajamangala National Stadium on Monday.
What is Cristiano Ronaldo’s situation at the club and will he stay at United to play under Ten Hag?
“We are planning with Cristiano Ronaldo for this season, so that’s it. I look forward to working with him,” was the reply.
If Ten Hag hoped that was the end of the matter, he was sadly mistaken. More than helped, questions ahead of his first game as United boss against Liverpool this afternoon were about a man who is not there.
Ronaldo was always going to top the agenda, even from 6,000 miles away. Nine years after United faced a similar situation with Wayne Rooney on his last trip to Bangkok, David Moyes will have some sympathy for the new starter.
To be fair to Ten Hag, he tackled the issue head-on, but was at no loss for words. Not for him the chirping of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or the rambling soliloquies of Ralf Rangnick.
As hard as the Dutchman tried to shut the matter down on Monday, he’s not going away any time soon, possibly not before the transfer window closes in early September.
We don’t expect to see Ronaldo on tour in Thailand or Australia after requesting compassionate leave for a family issue.
It was surprising to hear Ten Hag admit that the only conversation between the pair was before Ronaldo expressed his desire to leave and he only heard about it from the media.
You’d think convincing a club legend and United’s top scorer last season to stay at Old Trafford would be a new manager’s first deal, but Ten Hag kept the details of his conversation with Ronaldo close to his chest.
“It’s between Cristiano and me,” he said. “The only thing I can confirm is that we had a very good conversation together. He didn’t tell me that (about wanting to leave). I didn’t speak to him afterwards. I have read but what I am saying is that Cristiano is not for sale.
“It’s between Cristiano and me,” he said. “The only thing I can confirm is that we had a very good conversation together. He didn’t tell me that (about wanting to leave). I didn’t speak to him afterwards. I have read but what I am saying is that Cristiano is not for sale.
“Cristiano is in our plans and we want to succeed together.” On the matter of United’s transfer business this summer and their pursuit of Frenkie de Jong, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez, a tight-lipped Ten Hag was nowhere to be seen.
“I never talk about players who are not under contract at Manchester United,” he replied.
“We want to add the right players. Definitely, we are looking for players in midfield and we need them in attack. We are working to develop the way we play and if the opportunity arises we will strike.
The other hot topic presented to Ten Hag on Monday was that of captaincy. Harry Maguire’s fitness to wear the armband has been the subject of debate after a difficult season and Ten Hag was somewhat vague when asked about it when he was unveiled in May.
However, he confirmed the defender would stay on as skipper next season, adding: “He’s an established captain and he’s been very successful so I have no doubts about that.”
Maguire trained separately from his team-mates in Bangkok on Monday in a session watched by around 10,000 fans at the stadium, before Liverpool trained.
Ten Hag watched intently, only speaking intermittently and watching every inch of the studious coach. These are the first days but it is already clear that he will be a man of action rather than words.
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