Cristiano Ronaldo has been slammed for an explosive interview in which he declared he felt “betrayed” by Manchester United and claimed manager Erik ten Hag and club bosses were trying to push him from the club.
United is now reportedly considering tearing up his contract in January, with pundits – and many inside the club – feeling he should never represent the famous club again.
‘I feel betrayed’: Ronaldo goes nuclear at coach, Man Utd in explosive interview
Teasers from an interview with Piers Morgan, to be released in the coming days, showed Ronaldo slamming Ten Hag.
“I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me,” Ronaldo said.
“Not only the coach, but another two or three guys around the club. I felt betrayed.”
Asked if senior executives were trying to force him out of Old Trafford, Ronaldo replied: “Yes, I felt betrayed and I felt like some people don’t want me here, not only this year but last year too.”
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Ten Hag has criticised the 37-year-old Portuguese superstar just twice – on the two occasions Ronaldo has left a stadium before the final whistle, including when he refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham last month.
Ronaldo was disciplined after that incident, but has since come back to the squad, and even captained them a week ago against Aston Villa. Nevertheless, after a disastrous sixth-placed finish last season, Ronaldo has increasingly become a peripheral figure in the squad and has scored just once in 10 league appearances this campaign.
The club was caught by surprise at the unauthorised interview, with his teammates only finding out about the interview after their last-gasp win over Fulham.
On Monday the club released a statement that read: “Manchester United notes the media coverage regarding an interview by Cristiano Ronaldo.
“The club will consider its response after the full facts have been established. Our focus remains on preparing for the second half of the season and continuing the momentum, belief and togetherness being built among the players, manager, staff, and fans.”
The player attempted to find a new club in the off-season, something Manchester United were amenable to – but his sky-high wage demands, his waning influence, and ego were off-putting for rivals, as was United’s attempt to recoup some of the 20m pounds they shelled out in August 2021.
But his bombshell interview has blown up his future at the club.
“You’re now destroying your legacy,” TV pundit Richard Keys wrote in his blog. “Whinging, whining and refusing to play for your club does you no favours.
“The interview with Piers Morgan, that I’m reading about this morning is embarrassing.”
“He wants to be sacked, I think that’s obvious,” Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports.
“There were no takers, maybe because of his wages or the price Man Utd wanted.
“I think he knows that’s going to be the same in this next transfer window and he is now trying to be sacked or wants to leave on a free.”
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Luke Edwards wrote in The Telegraph: “On the face of things, there is no coming back. Ronaldo must go. He is goading the club to tear up his contract and leave for nothing.”
Ronaldo’s ex-United teammate Rio Ferdinand, a strong defender of the Portugal legend for the last year, said on his ‘Five’ YouTube channel: “I’m quite clear with this situation for Cristiano Ronaldo: It’s over. That love affair with Man United is finished. Right now the book’s been closed.
“I don’t see him playing again … I think Cristiano is well aware – if you undermine the manager, who is building the project, there can’t be a way back. So he’s snookered the club and put them into a position where there’s no way back.”
The club has reportedly sought legal advice as they mull their next actions – which is widely expected to include ripping up his contract. Ronaldo’s reported £560,000-a-week ($982k AUD) contract (the biggest in United history) expires at the end of the season. But the club would seemingly be more than happy to let him leave in January – even without a transfer fee – as long as they do not have to pay out the remaining six months of his contract.
“The suspicion is that this is what Ronaldo will demand, however,” it was reported in The Telegraph.
But, as was the case in July, there appear precious few clubs that Ronaldo could depart to – especially if he maintains his desire to only play for an elite European club.
Luke Edwards wrote in The Telegraph “Anyone who has seen Ronaldo play live this season knows he is nowhere near the player he was. He looks increasingly like an old man surrounded by faster, sharper, better younger athletes. Every other club who might consider signing him will have surely seen this.”
TV Pundit Richard Keys wrote: “Here’s the harsh truth – your time has gone,” Keys wrote, sternly. “You’re no longer what you were. Your powers have faded. You can’t push back time.“You’re at an age now where you should accept that your role is that of cameo – come on for 30 mins every week and enjoy yourself. Turn a game for United or add a couple of goals to a solid win. That’s it. No more. No less.”
In the Premier League, Chelsea were the most interested rival in July, particularly new owner Todd Boehly. Coach Thomas Tuchel shut down a move then, but new coach Graham Potter could be swayed. However, his style of football and the squad at his disposal means Ronaldo is not likely to be more than a squad player – the same issue behind his furious United blow-up.
One of the clubs most strongly linked in July, Napoli, is currently top of Italy’s Serie A and appear to have no need for the ageing superstar – or any desire to shell out for his wages.
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A heartwarming return to Portugal’s Sporting Lisbon has also been mooted. But that club could offer him nothing like the salary he is demanding, not that he needs it. And surely they are concerned at how his homecoming to Old Trafford has turned into a nightmare.
“I’ve been asked this question a thousand times. Ronaldo is a Manchester United player,” said Sporting manager Rubin Amorim today.
“Everyone at Sporting likes him, there’s not much to say. He himself says he wants to do things in peace to follow his future. He will decide his future.
“I won’t be here telling you how things are for me. In the summer it became obvious that things don’t all pass me by. There’s the club, there’s the structure. He’s a Manchester United player.”
A step down in quality to the MLS in the United States appears more likely, if Ronaldo can shelve his ego and his demands to play for a European contender. Even that would require a pay cut. The only option to pick up the kind of payday he has been demanding? The Middle East, with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal reportedly offering a whopping £210m ($368m AUD) over two years. Al-Hilal claimed that Ronaldo did not reject them, but rather the deal reportedly fell through due to a transfer ban.
Ronaldo clearly views that option, like the MLS, as a major step down. It might end up being his only option – unless he changes his tune.
Meanwhile, he has landed in Qatar for his fifth World Cup, taking to social media to share his “complete and total focus” is on Portugal’s national team and not the firestorm he ignited.
