Football
Ronaldo opens up on crisis with Manchester United, slams Erik ten Hag
Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up on his crisis with Manchester United and how he felt betrayed by some key players in the team and the manager of the club, Erik ten Hag.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner in an interview with Piers Morgan on Sunday night, said he feels “betrayed” by Manchester United for trying to force him out of the club.
The 37-year-old said he said he has “no respect” for Erik ten Hag because the Manchester United coach “doesn’t show respect for me”.
Speaking of ten Hag, Ronaldo said: “I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me. If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never gonna have respect for you. If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never gonna have respect for you.”
The former Real Madrid forward also put a knife through Man United with a scathing review of the club since Sir Alex Ferguson left, claiming there has been no improvement.
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“The progress was zero. Since Sir Alex left, I saw no evolution in the club. Nothing had changed,” he said.
“Nothing changes. Not only the Jacuzzi, the pool, even the gym. Even some points of technology, the kitchen, the chefs – who I appreciate, lovely people! They stopped in time which surprised me a lot.
“I thought I would see different things, technology, and infrastructure. Unfortunately, we see many things I’m used to seeing when I’m 21, 22, 23. It surprised me a lot.”
Ronaldo also took a shot at former United boss Ralf Rangnick, who took over on an interim basis last season.
“For example, an interesting point is how a club like Manchester United sacked Ole (Gunnar Solskjaer), they brought in a sporting director Ralf Rangnick which is something nobody understands,” he said.
“This guy is not even a coach! A big club like Manchester United bringing in a sporting director surprised not only me but all the world.”
Ronaldo rose to prominence after joining Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon in 2003. He left the English club for Real Madrid in 2009 before making a stunning return in August 2021.