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Cristiano Ronaldo will not be allowed to risk his recovery from the injury that plagued his World Cup by facing his former club Manchester United next Saturday.

The Portuguese winger was scheduled to link-up with Real Madrid on their pre-season tour of the United States last night ahead of the European champions’ showpiece clash with Louis van Gaal’s side in Ann Arbor.

But even that plan has been put on hold as he recuperates from a tendonitis problem in his knee will be carefully managed.

That means he won’t be facing his ex-Old Trafford team-mates - despite organisers of the International Champions Cup tournament being desperate for the Ballon d’Or winner to play.

More than 100,000 tickets have been sold for the game at Michigan Stadium. But Ronaldo has been warned that he risks permanent damage after playing the last two months of the season in constant discomfort.

He played through the pain barrier in Real’s Champions League triumph over rivals Atletico Madrid in Lisbon in May.

(Image: Getty)

But was a shadow of his normal self as Portugal exited the World Cup at the group stages.

Medics have told the £80million winger that his pre-season must be carefully monitored so that he doesn’t put too much stress on his knee.

Ronaldo has resisted the option of having an operation to cure the problem because recovery rates vary and he could be sidelined for months.

It is possible that his only pre-season outing will come at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on August 12, when Madrid face Sevilla in the European Super Cup.

In pictures: Manchester United's first pre-season match against LA Galaxy