Veteran Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo made fiery statements in a television interview in which he attacked his club and coach Eric Ten Hag and complained of being “betrayed”, which paves the way for his departure after the World Cup in Qatar.
Ronaldo returned to United for a second term at Old Trafford from Juventus in August 2021 with a two-year contract, after he contributed to the team winning eight major titles between 2003-2009.
The Portuguese star may have already played his last game for United after missing the 2-1 win over Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday.
A few hours after the match, he said in an interview with journalist Piers Morgan on “Talk TV” on Sunday: “I feel betrayed and that there are people who don’t want me here, not only this year but last year as well .. not only the coach, but he wanted two or Three people around the club to leave.”
Last month, Ronaldo refused to be a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur and walked towards the tunnel minutes before the end of the match after leaving the bench.
He was not part of the squad that faced Chelsea the following Saturday.
And about his relationship with coach Ten Hag, Ronaldo said: “I do not respect him, because he did not respect me.”
The player, who will lead Portugal in the World Cup next week, indicated that he did not find “sympathy” and the club questioned him during the illness of his daughter last July, adding that he was unable to join the team in the pre-season because he wanted to stay by her side.
Reuters was not immediately available for comment from United.
zero evolution
The former Real Madrid scorer lamented “United’s lack of progress” since coach Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. Ronaldo played under Ferguson in his first spell. He explained: “Zero development since the departure of Sir Alex, I have not found any progress in the club and nothing has changed .. (Ferguson) knows more than anyone that the club is not in the position it deserves .. He knows and everyone, who does not see it either does not He wants to see it, or he’s blind.”
He also criticized the club’s decision last season to replace coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a former team-mate, Ralf Rangnick.
Rangnick left his position as director of sport and development at Lokomotiv Moscow to move to Manchester.
Ronaldo said: “After the club sacked Ole, they brought in a sporting director, Ralph Rangnick, and no one understood that. This person is not even a coach. A big club like Manchester United brings in a sporting director. Not only did this surprise me, but the whole world.”
He continued: “I think the fans know the truth. I want the best for the club, and that’s why I came to Manchester United… But there are some things inside that don’t help us reach the level of City, Liverpool or Arsenal now, a club of this size should be at the top in my opinion.”
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