Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo will not play against Liverpool in the Premier League later on Tuesday following the death of his newborn son a day earlier, the club said.
Ronaldo and his partner Georgina Rodriguez, who announced in October last year they were expecting twins, said on Monday that one of the two babies had died.
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) April 18, 2022
Your pain is our pain, @Cristiano
Sending love and strength to you and the family at this time. https://t.co/24oyEV8CQi— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 18, 2022
All of us here at Liverpool FC send our deepest condolences to you, Georgina and the family ❤️
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 18, 2022
Everyone at Manchester City sends our deepest condolences to you and Georgina.
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 18, 2022
Comunicado Oficial.#RealMadrid
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) April 18, 2022
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Georgina and the whole family during this time ❤️
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) April 19, 2022
The thoughts and condolences of everyone at the Premier League are with you and your family, Cristiano.
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 18, 2022
"Family is more important than everything and Ronaldo is supporting his loved ones at this immensely difficult time," United said in a statement on the club website.
"As such, we can confirm that he will not feature in the match against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday evening and we underline the family's request for privacy."
United are fifth in the Premier League table, three points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, ahead of their trip to Anfield to take on second-placed Liverpool.
(Reporting by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar)