Manchester United caretaker manager Ralf Rangnick was not aware Cristiano Ronaldo had travelled to Portugal before Sunday's derby defeat.
Ronaldo missed the 4-1 capitulation to Manchester City on Sunday through injury and opted to return home to see family in Portugal.
United confirmed Rangnick was unaware that was the case at the time and that the trip had not been formally sanctioned, says the Telegraph.
But the club said it was not unusual for players to travel abroad to see family on days off and that there had been other instances in recent weeks of players doing so.
There was also no obligation for Ronaldo to be at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday because he was injured.
Ronaldo missed training on Friday after being diagnosed with a hip flexor problem that kept him out of the City game and is then thought to have flown to Portugal at the weekend and returned on Monday night.
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