Was Man Utd's Garnacho really benched for liking Cristiano Ronaldo's Instagram post?

Manchester United have denied claims that Erik ten Hag dropped Alejandro Garnacho from the squad against Southampton for liking a social media post by Cristiano Ronaldo.

This comes after Ronaldo's recent interviews where the five-time Ballon d’Or winner criticised Ten Hag’s ambition for the club.

Eagle-eyed fans noticed that Garnacho had liked one of Ronaldo’s posts, sparking rumours about his exclusion from the squad.

However, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano clarified that Manchester United sources insist Garnacho’s omission was not linked to his social media activity.

Romano quoted sources stating, “Man United guarantee Garnacho was not dropped due to liking Ronaldo’s comments. It was purely a technical and tactical decision by Erik ten Hag.”

Ronaldo’s recent remarks about Manchester United’s title ambitions have stirred debate, as the Portuguese star suggested the club needs a rebuild and questioned Ten Hag’s leadership.

Despite this, United is maintaining that Garnacho’s squad status remains a footballing decision, not a reaction to his online interactions.