Cristiano Ronaldo hits out at Manchester United

Synopsis: Cristiano Ronaldo opened up about his second spell with Manchester United, admitting he felt “betrayed” by the club.

Cristiano Ronaldo says he “doesn’t respect” Erik ten Hag and claims the Manchester United manager tried to force him out in the summer.

Cristiano Ronaldo during his first spell at Manchester United.

Cristiano Ronaldo hits out at Manchester United

Following an interview with Piers Morgan, it appears that Cristiano Ronaldo got what he desired.

The Portuguese football star opened up about his second spell with Manchester United, admitting he felt “betrayed” by the club.

He also targeted manager Erik ten Hag.

“I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me,” Ronaldo said. “If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never going to have respect for you.”

Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo during the match between Aston Villa and Manchester United at Villa Park on November 6, 2022, in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Ronaldo recently returned to the club after being separated because he refused to come in as a substitute late in the match against Tottenham and then left early. It was Ronaldo’s second time leaving a game before the final whistle.

When it comes to feeling betrayed, Ronaldo relates it to Ten Hag and other members of the club attempting to force him out.

“Not only the manager but the other two or three guys who are around the club,” Ronaldo said. “I felt betrayed. I don’t care, people should listen to the truth. Yes, I felt betrayed. I feel that some people didn’t want me here, not only this year but last year too.”

During the interview, Cristiano Ronaldo also claimed to have “never heard of” Rangnick prior to his appointment as caretaker manager last season, and he accused United of failing to progress between his departure from Real Madrid in 2009 and his return to the club in 2021.

“I followed my heart,” Ronaldo said. “He [Ferguson] said to me, ‘It’s impossible for you to come to Manchester City,’ and I said, ‘OK, Boss.'”The progress was zero. Since Sir Alex left, I saw no evolution in the club. Nothing had changed. He [Ferguson] knows better than anybody that the club is not on the path they deserve to be.”He knows. Everyone knows. The people who don’t see that. It’s because they don’t want to see; they are blind.”

Cristiano Ronaldo and Ten Hag

It’s debatable whether Ten Hag or other club officials don’t want Ronaldo. What isn’t is the truth that Cristiano Ronaldo sought a move away when United failed to qualify for the Champions League.

He considered the Europa League to be beneath him, and his agent, Jorge Mendes, was looking for a team in the Champions League to come in and grab Ronaldo. Every team linked to Ronaldo has publicly stated that they are not interested in signing the ageing superstar.

According to his most recent remarks, he appears to be the one who does not want to be at Manchester United. All of his antics point in that direction.

Manchester United issued the following statement in response to his remarks:

“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 timing of this interview was also not by chance. With the World Cup break, he knew there would be no consequences until he returned. He’ll try to use the World Cup to boost his stock and convince a Champions League team to sign him, potentially forcing United’s hand in trying to get rid of him in the winter.

Regardless of what he’s said publicly, Ten Hag and Manchester United would be better off without Cristiano Ronaldo. They have a better side when he is not present. But, because he’s a club legend, they have to tread carefully and watch what they say.

The silver lining to his latest outburst is that they can get rid of him without the fear of backlash from supporters.

A sequel is almost never as good as the first. Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo have both discovered this for themselves.

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