EPL: However big you are – Murphy slams Cristiano Ronaldo for leaving Old Trafford

Former Liverpool star, Danny Murphy has slammed Manchester United icon, Cristiano Ronaldo, accusing him of ‘setting a horrendous example’.

This was after the 37-year-old left Old Trafford at half-time of their friendly with Rayo Vallecano.

Ronaldo, who has reportedly declared his intention to leave Old Trafford this summer in search of Champions League football this season, made his first pre-season appearance on Sunday.

But, after having a 45 minute run out, the Portugal international was then substituted for young forward, Amad Diallo and the superstar did not wait for the game to finish.

Images on Twitter showed the former Real Madrid and Juventus star leaving the ground at half-time as his side were drawing 0-0, causing a frenzy within the Red Devils’ fan base online.

And this particular behaviour did not go down well with Murphy, who told talkSPORT that, “It doesn’t look good.

“I don’t think whatever your grievances are or however big a name you are you should not do that. I think it gives a horrible message and it has to be dealt with.”

Murphy believes that the football icon should not be risking causing controversy and creating bad precedents for others in the dressing room.

“You can’t have a player doing that, it sets a horrendous example,” he maintained.