5 Big Name Players Who Were Dropped from Squad Amid Cristiano Ronaldo Debacle

• Cristiano Ronaldo was dropped from Manchester United’s first team after his hasty exit from Old Trafford on Wednesday, October 19
• The superstar will subsequently not feature in the game against Chelsea on Saturday
• He is not the first superstar to be frozen out of the squad as punishment as a number of big names have also suffered the same fate in the past

As the football world still comes to terms with the latest twist in Cristiano Ronaldo’s otherwise glittery career, fans with long memories will know the Portuguese superstar is not the first to endure his latest uphill battle.

Ronaldo currently has to make peace with training alone after being exiled from the first team following his early departure from Old Trafford on Wednesday.

In the spirit of the recent drama surrounding the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Sports Brief takes a look at other famous football stars who have publicly been cut off from the squad over disciplinary issues.

Super Eagles star Emmanuel Dennis opens goal account for Premier League side Nottingham Forest

Football

1. Roy Keane

Now a pundit, retired midfielder Roy Keane was a walking firecracker back in his day.

In 2002, Keane was reportedly not happy with the training facilities given to the Ireland national team in for the World Cup.

He would go on to have a fallout with the then Ireland manager Mick McCarthy after famously telling him “I didn't rate you as a player, I don't rate you as a manager, and I don't rate you as a person.”

2. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

This is a more recent exile as the Gabon international was dropped from the Arsenal squad towards the end of 2021 after breaching protocol. He also attracted trouble after reporting late back to the club after an authorized trip abroad.

3. Alan Shearer

Shearer, one of the most prolific strikers the Premier League has ever seen, was famously dropped from the Newcastle squad to face Sunderland in the derby in 1999 by the manager at the time Ruud Gullit, whose side went on to lose 2-1.

PSG held by Benfica amid reports Mbappe wants to leave

Football

The decision to bench Shearer did not sit well with fans for obvious reasons.

4. Nicolas Anelka

Anelka, another top striker in his prime, had a number of controversial moments as a player.

He got his first call-up for the World Cup in 2010 but was sent home packing early as France crashed out in the group stage.

At the time, Anelka reportedly swore at manager Raymond Domenech, as reported on Daily Mail.

The striker refused to apologize, instead hitting back saying:

“I insulted a coach who the whole of France had already insulted, a coach who had never won anything apart from Ligue 2 and the Toulon tournament!”

Domenech was sacked soon after France exited the global tournament. For Anelka, he was slapped with an 18-month ban.

5. Carlos Tevez

In 2011, Carlos Tevez was dropped to the bench and stripped of club captaincy by Manchester City on grounds that he exhibited disloyalty by openly expressing his desire to leave the club.