Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from Manchester United in late 2022 marked the end of a tumultuous second stint at the club, one filled with tension, criticism, and ultimately a high-profile fallout with manager Erik ten Hag. Ronaldo, once seen as the prodigal son returning to revive United’s fortunes, left the club on sour terms after a series of disputes with the Dutch manager.
Ronaldo’s Comments: A Stinging Critique
Speaking to the media recently, Cristiano Ronaldo expressed doubts about Manchester United’s potential to challenge for major honors, particularly the Premier League title. The Portuguese superstar, now plying his trade in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr, offered a critical assessment of his former club’s current state, implying that United lacks the strength and cohesion to mount a serious title challenge under Ten Hag.
“I don’t see them winning the Premier League anytime soon,” Ronaldo reportedly said. “The team is not where it should be. They need a lot of work to be able to compete with Manchester City or even Liverpool.” These comments echoed Ronaldo’s earlier grievances about the direction of the club during his final months at Old Trafford, where he often voiced frustration with the management and structure of the team.
Ten Hag’s Response: “He is Far Away from Manchester”
Erik ten Hag, known for his calm demeanor but unyielding discipline, did not shy away from addressing Ronaldo’s latest remarks. During a press conference ahead of United’s upcoming fixture, Erik Ten Hag was asked about Ronaldo’s comments and their potential impact on the team. His response was swift and direct, underlining the distance between Ronaldo’s current reality and the club he left behind.
“He is far away from Manchester,” Ten Hag quipped, a comment that seemed to emphasize both the geographical and emotional distance between the player and the club. The Dutch manager was quick to shift the focus back to the present and future of Manchester United, rather than dwell on the past.
“I don’t focus on what people outside of the club are saying, especially those who are no longer part of this project. We are building something here, and our focus is on the players and staff who are fully committed to that.”
The Fallout: A Relationship in Tatters
Ronaldo’s second tenure at Manchester United, which began with much fanfare in the summer of 2021, took a rapid turn for the worse in the months following Ten Hag’s arrival in 2022. The breakdown in their relationship was evident to fans and pundits alike. Ronaldo’s reduced role under Ten Hag, particularly his appearances from the bench and lack of involvement in key games, seemed to be at the heart of the issue.
The tension between player and manager reached a boiling point when Ronaldo famously walked off the pitch before the final whistle in a match against Tottenham Hotspur, after refusing to come on as a late substitute.
The final blow came when Ronaldo gave a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan in which he claimed to feel “betrayed” by Ten Hag and other figures at Manchester United. He accused the club of lacking ambition and suggested that Ten Hag had shown him a lack of respect.
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