"Is that too much to ask?" - Neville urges Ronaldo to clarify Man Utd's 'messy' stance

Gary Neville admits he is 'disappointed' with Cristiano Ronaldo for putting Manchester United and Erik ten Hag in a 'messy' situation on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.

Ronaldo wants to leave Old Trafford to play in the Champions League this season but, so far, no club have offered a suitable offer for the player or United.

The Red Devils kick off their league campaign on Sunday and an injury to Anthony Martial puts new boss Erik ten Hag in the position of having to choose whether or not to play his missing star.

"Ronaldo's situation is distracting," Neville said on Sky Sports. You saw Ten Hag at Friday's press conference having to answer questions about it.

"The fact that Anthony Martial got injured and he's the only other centre-forward, and he was actually going to leave the club six months ago.

"The fact that they didn't bring in Frenkie de Jong, the fact that you weren't supported like the other managers did and that you got the signings early, I think all of that means it's a tougher job for Ten Hag than it already was."

Neville was asked if he would face Ronaldo upfront against Brighton: "If Ronaldo is fit, you start him, and I hope he stays.

"I'm a bit disappointed with him because he lets the manager take part in these press conferences. Cristiano Ronaldo is now at a good age. He has been the greatest player in the world with Lionel Messi for 10 years. He has all the experience in the world.

“Would it be too much to ask him to come out and do an interview to clear things up, tell us what he really thinks and what is really going on?

"That would be asking too much of a senior player? Won't he be doing an interview for the next three weeks? Won't he be doing an interview on Sunday after the game?

"Obviously Sky is going to ask that on Sunday after the game. Will he come out, get up, do the interview and not let everyone answer the questions for him?

"I think that would be something that would be a start.

"So for me, I'm disappointed because that clarity that we don't have and the reason why Ten Hag gets a little nervous during his press conference is that he gets asked tough questions. He probably isn't really telling us the truth because he can't.

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"The reality is that if a Champions League club replaces Cristiano Ronaldo in the next two weeks, I think we know he wants to make that decision. We know that. He has emerged over the past few weeks .

"At the moment no one has come for him. So that's why the club is saying at the moment that he can stay and we want him to stay, but if someone comes, I think that he would leave.

"Should Manchester United wait two to three weeks before the end of a transfer window to find out if their star centre-forward leaves? I don't think they should be in that position.

"Do they just say no and tell him to stay no matter what? That would be clear from the club, I suppose, but there is a big risk that Cristiano, in two weeks, throw her toys out of the pram and say I'm leaving.

"That's the kind of thing that could happen and that's why I find it unpleasant.

“There is also something more important to me because I want his career at Man Utd to end well. What he has achieved at the club and what he has achieved in the game, is- it's too much to ask him for the next 12 months to encourage young players, to be a leader on the field and to do the interviews when your team wins and when they lose.