Cristiano Ronaldo is 'dismayed' at 'stubborn' Erik ten Hag's training and tactics at Manchester United

Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly dismayed with Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag's tactics and training since his arrival at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo, 37, has endured a torrid start to the season, managing only one goal in his nine appearances – a penalty against Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League.

The Portuguese superstar has lost his guaranteed starting place this season under Ten Hag, having handed in a transfer request during the summer transfer window in an unsuccessful bid to join a club competing in the Champions League.

Ronaldo was given a rare start on Thursday in United's Europa League match against Cypriot side Omonia but failed to impress, missing a number of chances to score his 700^th goal in club football.

It came just days after he was an unused substitute for United in their chastening 6-3 defeat to rivals Manchester City in the Premier League.

Ten Hag says he refused to bring Ronaldo on "out of respect for his big career", comments which raised eyebrows post-match.

Defeat at the Etihad has left United sixth in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders Arsenal – albeit having played a game less.

Ronaldo has scored just once this season (Image: Alamy)

The Times claim Ronaldo has now lost patience with Ten Hag after finding himself in a bit-part role this season.

According to the report, Ronaldo is "often at loggerheads" with the former Ajax manager. 

Sources claim Ronaldo "complains about the nature and quality of training sessions" and believes "United would be better off playing a different way".

"Ronaldo is said to consider Ten Hag stubborn and unnecessarily wedded" to the tactics that he used as Ajax boss, the report added.

Ronaldo has been strongly linked with a move away from United in the January transfer window.

Ronaldo is said to be at 'loggerheads' with Erik ten Hag (Image: Alamy)

The report claims the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is "readying himself for a new club" once he has returned from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar this winter, likely his last as a player with Portugal.

"Privately, Ten Hag would be happy to be relieved of the problem of sharing a dressing room with a player who openly opposes his methods," added the report.

However, it remains to be seen whether United would allow Ronaldo to leave Old Trafford six months before the end of his two-year contract.