Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has stated they he wants Cristiano Ronaldo to remain with the club.
The 37-year-old refused to feature as a late substitute in Wednesday's 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, and he proceeded to head down the tunnel before the match had concluded.
As a result of the incident, Ronaldo has been dropped for United's Premier League away meeting with Chelsea on Saturday.
Although Ronaldo's future at the club remains uncertain, Ten Hag responded defiantly when asked by reporters whether he wanted the Portugal international to stay and if he would remain at Old Trafford.
"Both, it [dropping Ronaldo] is for this game and then we continue. It's a strike.
"As we said in the statement, Cristiano remains an important part of the squad and I count on him for the rest of the season. We want to fulfil our ambitions."
Ronaldo, who has started two Premier League games this season, released a statement on Thursday after being excluded from the squad for the Chelsea clash.
