Cristiano Ronaldo's walk-off is ruining Man United legacy

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The trashing of his legacy at Manchester United makes it harder for him to find an escape route.

After storming off to the locker room as an unused substitute before the end of Wednesday's 2-0 win against Spurs in the premier league, the 37 year old is in danger of becoming a problem.

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The former Real Madrid and Juventus forward silenced the doubters in his first season back at United last year -- he completed a 15 million move from Juve, having left United for Real in 2009).

The Portugal international was able to point to his goal tally as proof that he delivered on the pitch while many of his teammates fell below their expectations. All the negative things that were said about him last season have begun to surface in his second year at Old United.

Since his associates made it clear in June that he wanted to leave United for a team in theChampions League, he has become an unnecessary distraction at the club, constantly overshadowing the progress being made by the team under the manager. After missing the entire preseason tour of Asia and Australia, and then angering Ten Hag by driving away from the stadium during the second half of the preseason friendly against Rayo Vallecano in July,Ronaldo decided to return to Madrid. "Ronaldo's actions were unacceptable," said Ten Hag.

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According to sources, Ten Hag wouldn't have objected to the player leaving Manchester United this summer if he knew he was going to work with him. Even though he is happy to have his goal threat in the squad, Ten Hag knows that displays of petulance such as Wednesday's unauthorized early exit from the locker room can become big talking points.

On top of that, the walk-off on Wednesday came just three days after he reacted with disdain to being substituted during Sunday's draw at home toNewcastle United, shaking his head in a visible show of dissent at Ten Hag's decision to replace him with MarcusRashford. On that occasion, Ten Hag said he understood a player of the caliber ofRonaldo being unhappy at being taken out, but it was just another example of the effect thatRonaldo is having.

You wouldn't think so because the win against Spurs was United's best display under Ten Hag and one of the team's most exciting performances since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, but the aftermath is all about him and his actions.

He used to dominate the spotlight for the right reasons, but now he seems incapable of accepting that he is no longer the center of attention. He has been on the bench for six of the eight games he has played this season. He has spent over 300 minutes on the pitch in the league and contributed one goal and one assist.

Even though he is United's best goal scorer, he does not contribute enough when he isn't hitting the back of the net. Ten Hag has been bold enough to acknowledge that and select players more capable of providing the work ethic that can't be delivered by him.

Ten Hag had to make a decision about whether or not to use him or not. If he had been prepared to accept his reduced status as he approaches his 38th birthday in February, he would have been able to adjust to his new reality.

When it comes to his own fitness and longevity,Ronaldo is still the epitome professional, but he has now reached the stage of his career where he is simply part of a team rather than the player who drives it.

It is difficult for a great player like Ten Hag to trust him to do his job because of his behavior. When the transfer window opens in January, top clubs will want to avoid him because he is a problem that United can't do without.

Having enjoyed such a distinguished career, and now reaching the end by becoming an annoyance and a distraction, that will damage his reputation.